it'^- 


Hubert  Henry  Davies 

MRS.  GORRINGFS 
NECKLACE 


A    COMEDY     IN     FOUR     ACTS 


Walter  H.   Baker  6  Co.,   Boston 


^rice,  50  Centre?  (Cad^ 


TIE  AMAZONS    ^•'c^^Thre^AcU.    Seren  males,  five  females. 
Costumes,  modern ;  scenery,  not  dlffloult.    Plays 
A  fall  erening. 

THE  CABINET  MINISTER    ^^°®*^^o«r-^ct8.  Ten  males,  nine 
females.  Ck>8tume8,  modern  society ; 
•oenery,  three  Interiors.    Plays  a  full  erenlng. 

DANDY  DICK    ^^^^  ^  Three  Acts.    Seren  males,  four  females. 
Costumes,  modem ;  scenery,  two  interiors.    Plays 
two  hours  and  a  half. 

TBE  fiAY  LORD  ODEX    C<*™®<*y"^^*>^'A^ct8.    Four  males,  ten 
"  females.    Costumes,  modern  ;  scenery, 

two  interiors  and  an  exterior.    Plays  a  full  evening. 

HIS  flODSE  IN  ORDER    <^o™®<^yi"^ourActs.   Nine  males,  four 
females.    Costumes,  modern  ;  scenery, 
three  Interiors.    Plays  a  full  evening. 

THE  HOBBY  HORSE    ^^™®^y  ^^  Three  Acts.    Ten  males,  five 
females.  Costumes,  modern;  scenery  easy. 
Plays  two  hours  and  a  half. 

IRIS    ^'''"^^  ^^  Five  Acts.    Seven  males,  seven  females.    Costumes, 
modem  ;  scenery,  three  interiors.    Plays  a  full  evening. 

LADY  BOUNTIFUL    ^^^  ^^  ^^^^  ^^^^'    -^^^^  males,  seven  fe- 
males.    Costiimes,  modern ;  scenery,  four  in- 
teriors, not  easy.    Plays  a  full  evening. 

I ITTTV    Drama  in  Four  Acts  and  an  Epilogue.    Ten  males,  five  fe- 
^  males.    Costumes,  modem  ;  scenery  complicated.    Plays  a 

full  evening. 


Sent  prepaid  on  receipt  of  price  by 

wmtt  i^*  :Ba6er  &  Company 

No.  5  Hamilton  Place,  Boston,  Massachusetts 


MRS.   GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE 


Mrs.  Gorringe's 
Necklace 

A  PLAT  IN  FOUR   ACTS 
By   HUBERT  HENRT  DA  FIRS 


All  rights  reserved  under  the  International  Copyright  Act. 
Performance  forbidden  and  right  of  representation  reserved. 
Application  for  the  right  to  produce  this  play  may  be  made 
to  Charles  Frohman^  Empire  Theatre^  New  York. 


BOS  TO N^ 

WALTER  H.    BAKER   &-  CO. 

LONDON 

WILLIAM  HEINEMANN 

MCMX 


MRS,    GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE 


Copyright,  1910,  by 
HUBERT    HENRY    DAVIES 

All  rights  reserved 


PLEASE    READ    CAREFULLY 

The  acting  rights  of  this  play  are  reserved  by  the  author. 
Performance  is  strictly  forbidden  unless  his  express  consent 
or  that  of  his  agent  has  first  been  obtained,  and  attention 
is  called  to  the  penalties  provided  by  law  for  any  infringe- 
ment of  his  rights,  as  follows  :  — 

"  Sec.  4966  :  —  Any  person  publicly  performing  or  renre- 
sentinp:  any  dramatic  or  musicnl  comnosition  for  which 
copyright  has  been  obtained,  without  the  consent  of  the 
proprietor  of  said  dramatic  or  musical  comnosition.  or  his 
heirs  and  assisms.  shall  be  liable  for  damaees  therefor,  such 
damages  in  all  cases  to  be  asspss^d  at  such  sum.  not  less 
than  one  hundred  dollars  for  the  first  and  fifty  dollars  for 
every  subsequent  performance,  as  to  the  court  shall  annear 
to  be  iust.  If  the  unlawful  performance  and  representation 
be  wilful  and  for  profit,  such  person  or  persons  shall  be 
guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  upon  conviction  be  imprisoned 
for  a  period  not  exceeding  one  year."  —  U,  S.  Revised 
Statutes,  Title  60,  Chap.  S. 

The  right  to  perform  this  play  professionally  may  be  ob- 
tained by  addressing 

Charles  Fkohman,  Empire  Theatre,  New  York. 


MRS,  GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE 


CAST  OF  CHARACTERS 

Captain  Mowbray,  retired 

Colonel  Jardine,  retired 

Lieutenant   David  Cairn 

Mr.  Jernigan,  a  detective  inspector 

Charles,  a  footman 

Mrs.  Jardine 

^     Isabel  Kirke      K       •,       ,, 

\  her  daughters 
Vicky  Jardine  > 

Miss  Potts 

Hrs.  Gorringe 

The  scene  of  the  play  is  laid  in  the  library  in  Colonel 
Jardine's  house.  ' 


The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  play-bill  of  the  original 
performance. 

Cdyndbam's  Cbeatrc 

Tuesday f  May    12th,    1903,    and    every    evening   at   S.^^S 
will  he  presented 

A  NEW  AND  ORIGINAL  PLAY  IN  FOUR   ACTS 
ENTITLED 

)VIr9*  Gorringc's  j^ccklace 

By  HUBERT  HENRY  DAVIES 

Captain  Mowbray,  retired        Charles   Wyndham 
Colonel  Jardine,  retired         Mr.  Alfred  Bishop 
Lieutenant  David  Cairn       Mr.  Leslie  Faher 
Mr.  Jernigan,  a  detective  inspector 

Mr.  Eille  Norwood 
Charles,  a  footman  Mr.  Reginald   Walter 

Mrs.  Jardine  Miss  Marie  Illington 

Isabel  Kirke     >  Miss  Mabel  Terry-Lewis 

Vicky  Jardine  )  Miss  Lettice  Fairfax 

Miss  Potts  Miss  Ethel  Marryat 

and 
Mrs.  Gorringe  Miss  Mary  Moore 


The  scene  of  the  play  is  laid  in  the  Library  in   Colonel 
Jardine's   House. 


The  action  takes  place  near  a  Garrison  Town  at  a  little  dis- 
tance from  London,  and  covers  a  period  of  about  twenty 
hours. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S 
NECKLACE 

THE    FIRST    ACT 

SCENE. —  The  library  of  Colonel  Jardine's 
house,  situated  near  a  garrison  town  in  the 
south  of  England.  The  library  is  much  used 
by  all  the  family  as  a  sitting-room.  Opposite 
the  audience  there  is  a  Fre-hch  window  afford- 
ing a  view  of  a  large  well-kept  garden.  On 
one  side  of  the  stage  there  is  a  fireplace,  and 
in  the  wall  opposite,  a  door.  There  is  an 
electric  bell  beside  the  fireplace  and  a  switch 
for  turning  on  the  electric  \ight  beside  the 
door.  The  room  is  well  furnished  with  book- 
shelves, a  large  writing  table,  two  or  three 
smaller  tables,  a  sofa,  chairs,  etc.,  etc.,  pre- 
senting a  comfortable  and  homelike  appear- 
ance. 

Near  the  fireplace,  and  in  full  view  of  the 
whole  audience,  there  is  an  ornamental  bowl, 
standing  on  a  high  pedestal  and  containing  a 
flowering  plant.  It  is  the  late  afternoon  of  a 
summer  day. 

1 


2  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Mrs.  Jardine^  a  well-dressed,  middle-aged  woman, 
is  lying  asleep  on  the  sofa. 

Enter  Mrs.  Gorringe,  a  younger  woman^  always 
elaborately  hut  never  vulgarly  dressed.  She 
wears  a  handsome  house  dress  and  no 
hat.  She  appears  restless  and  preoccupied  all 
through  her  scene  with  Mrs.  Jardine.  When 
Mrs.  Gorringe  closes  the  door,  Mrs.  Jardine 
wakes  with  a  start,  hlinhs  and  looks  up  with' 
out  taking  her  feet  down, 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
Oh!     Is  that  you,  Mrs.  Gorringe? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
I  hope  I  haven^w  disturbed  you. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
No.    It  must  be  about  my  waking-up  time. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
It's  after  five. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Then  they'll  be  home  soon.    I  thought  you  had 
all  gone  to  watch  the  polo. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Yes,  but  I  left  the  ground  early.     \_Sits  and 
gazes  at  the  fireplace,'] 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  3 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
How  was  the  game  going? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

I  don't  know.  As  soon  as  anyone  explains  to 
me  how  the  score  stands,  they  always  go  and 
change  the  board. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
Was  anyone  hurt  ? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
No. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

That's  a  mercy.  Every  time  they  play,  I  have 
visions  of  my  husband  being  borne  home  mangled 
on  a  shutter.  I  was  so  wrought  up  over  the 
idea  this  afternoon,  it  took  me  several  minutes 
to  drop  asleep. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Colonel  Jardine  was  umpiring  to-day. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
Oh,  yes.     Who  played  for  our  side? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Captain  Mowbray,  and  Mr.  What's-his-name, 
and  that  Mr.  Thingamy  with  the  white  eyelashes 
and  someone  else  —  I  forgot  who. 


4  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Mrs.  Jakdine. 

Sounds  like  a  very  strong  team.  I  suppose  Cap- 
tain Mowbray  carried  all  before  him  as  usual. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Gazing  at  the  fireplace,  and  not  attending.'] 
Yes. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

I'm  glad  Isabel  was  there  to  see  his  triumph.  I 
really  believe  he's  been  in  love  with  her  evej  since 
he  first  met  her,  when  he  came  home  a  few  years 
ago.  And  now  that  he  has  made  this  enormous 
fortune  in  South  Africa,  I  see  no  obstacle  to  a 
marriage.  There  used  to  be  some  goings-on  be- 
tween Isabel  and  David  Cairn,  but  I  hope  that's 
all  blown  over.  He  has  no  money,  you  see,  so  of 
course  it's  no  good —  [Looks  towards  Mrs.  Gor- 
ringe  and  sees  she  is  not  attending.^  I'm  afraid 
I  bore  you. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Starts  and  turns  to  her.']  Oh,  no,  indeed  — 
you  talk  so  interestingly  about  polo. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Surprised.l  Polo?  What's  the  matter,  dear; 
aren't  you  well? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Nervously.]  I'm  a  little  upset.  In  fact  — 
very  much  upset.     I've  lost  something. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  5 

Mes.  Jardine. 
Oh? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Yes  —  a  —  a  —  diamond  necklace. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
[7/1  consternation.']     A  diamond  necklace  I 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
With  a  pearl  clasp. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
But  how —    How  could  it  have  happened? 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Rises.]  I  don't  know.  I  can't  think.  [SpeaTcs 
volubly  as  she  moves  about  describing  the  scene.] 
I  went  to  my  room  when  I  came  in.  You  know 
how  the  dressing-table  stands  —  as  if  it  were 
there.  [Points  to  a  table.]  And  the  door  of  course 
is  like  this.  [Indicates  the  door,  goes  towards  it, 
opens  it,  goes  just  outside  and  then  comes  in 
again.]  Well,  I  came  in  at  the  door  just  as  I'm 
coming  in  now.  Of  course  I  had  my  hat  on.  I 
closed  the  door.  [Closes  the  door  and  walhs  to- 
wards the  imaginary  dressing-table,  talking  all 
the  time.]  Then  I  crossed  over  to  the  dressing- 
table  in  quite  an  ordinary  manner.  Just  as  I'm 
doing  now.  [Stands  before  the  imaginary  dress- 
ing-table.]    Well,   I   looked  into  my  jewel-case. 


e  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

I  wanted  to  get  some  rings.  These  rings,  in  fact. 
[Bends  her  hand  to  show  her  rings.^  I  thought 
it  looked  different  from  usual.  I  couldn^t  think 
what  it  was  at  first,  but  I  remember  saying  to 
myself,"  "  Well,  that's  funny !  "  Then  all  at  once 
it  flashed  across  me  and  I  clasped  my  hands  and 
exclaimed —  [clasps  her  hands  dramatically'] 
"  Great  heavens,  my  diamond  necklace  has  gone !  " 
[Drops  the  dramatic  pose  anU  tone.]  Just  like 
that. 

Mrs.  Jakdine. 

What  a  terrible  situation  for  me.  To  think  it 
should  be  lost  in  my  house. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
My  necklace. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

It  must  be  one  of  the  servants.  We  haven't  had 
Pipkin  long,  and  she's  always  looking  out  of  the 
window.  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  she  stole  it.  [Mrs. 
Jardine's  attention  is  attracted  to  the  window  as 
Isabel^  Vicky  and  Miss  Potts  pass  without, 
dressed  in  their  outdoor  clothes.  Isabel  is  a  hand- 
some, independent  girl  of  twenty-five;  Vicky  a 
giddy  creature  of  fifteen  with  a  plait  coming  un- 
done. Miss  Potts  an  unimportant  spinster.] 
Here  are  the  girls.    Don't  say  a  word  about  it. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
No.    It's  better  not.    I  told  my  maid  to  stay  in 


MRS,   GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  7 

my  room  and  guard  the  rest  of  my  jewels.     [Sits, 
gazing  in  front  of  her,  and  sighs.] 

[Isabel   enters,  followed  by  Vicky   and 
Miss  Potts. 

Isabel. 

[Coming  forward  as  she  spealcs.']  We've 
brought  Miss  Potts  to  tea.  [Rings  the  bell  beside 
the  fireplace.] 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Shaking  hands  with  Miss  Potts.]  Did  you 
enjoy  the  polo  ? 

Miss  Potts. 

Oh,  exceedingly. 

Isabel. 

We  won.     Four  to  three. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
Hurrah ! 

[Mrs.  Jardine  and  Miss  Potts  sit  on  the 
sofa  conversing  together. 

Vicky. 

And  we  had  such  fun  coming  home.  We  all 
squashed  into  the  cart  and  sat  on  each  other's  laps. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
[Remonstrating.']     Oh,  Vicky,  dear. 


8  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Vicky. 

Not  Isabel.  [With  meaning.']  David  wasn't 
there. 

Isabel. 

Vicky,  don't  you  think  you'd  better  go  and  do 
your  hair  ?  It  looks  as  if  you'd  been  sweeping  the 
field  with  it. 

Vicky. 

Will  you  do  it,  Mrs.  Gorringe? 

[Produces  a  ribbon  from  her  pocket  and 
gives  it  to  Mrs.  Gorringe  as  she  speaks. 
Mrs.  Gorringe  starts  from  a  reverie 
when  addressed.  Vicky  kneels  beside 
Mrs.  Gorringe's  chair  while  she  plaits 
her  hair  and  whispers  to  her. 

Miss  Potts  and  Vicky. 
[Together.]     Oh !     Lor ! 

[They  both  turn  to  Isabel. 

Miss  Potts  and  Vicky. 
[Together.]     Isabel,  Mrs.  Gorringe  has  lost  her 
diamond  necklace. 

Mrs.  Jardine,  Mrs.  Gorringe  and  Isabel. 
[Sharply  together.]     Sh ! 

[They  say  ''Sh!''  because  Charles,  a 
young  footman,  enters  ivith  a  tea-tray. 
As  they  say  *'Shf  Mrs.  Jardine  seizes 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  9 

Miss  Potts  so  suddenly  by  the  arm  that 
she  utters  a  little  scream^  while  Mrs. 
GoRRiNGE  pulls  Vicky  hack  hy  her  plait. 
They  remain  silent,  watching  Charles 
as  he  arranges  the  tea-table.  As  soon  as 
Charles  goes  out  they  all  begin  talking 
at  once  until  Charles  returns  with  a 
teapot,  which  he  places  upon  the  table. 
There  is  dead  silence  from  the  moment 
Charles  enters  unPil  he  goes  out  again, 
closing  the  door  after  him.  Then  Isabel 
speahs. 

Isabel. 

Your  diamond  necklace? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
AVith  the  pearl  clasp. 

Isabel. 
How  very  dreadful. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
We  aren't  saying  anything  about  it  at  present. 

Isabel. 
How  very  silly. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Is  it  ?  I  don't  know  what  we  really  ought  to  do ; 
you  see,  I  never  lost  anything  of  any  value  before 
I  came  to  stay  with  you. 


10  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

And  we  never  lost  anything  at  all  before  you 
came  to  stay  with  us. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
If  Pipkin  really  stole  it  — 

Isabel. 

[Interrupting  Mffs.  Gorringe.]  Who  says 
Pipkin  stole  it? 

[Mrs.  Gorringe  looks  a^  Mrs.  Jardine. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

I  only  said  she  might  have  done.  You  know 
ehe  is  always  looking  out  of  the  windows,  and  she 
lived  with  a  French  family  before  she  came  to  us. 

Vicky. 
[Giggling.']     Oh,  isn^t  that  just  like  mother? 

Isabel. 

[Pausing  as  she  makes  the  tea  to  say  thought- 
fully.'] That's  rather  queer.  [They  look  towards 
Isabel.]  Do  you  remember  that  story  Captain 
Mowbray  told  at  luncheon  yesterday  about  a  man 
who  stole  a  woman's  bracelet  and  had  it  copied  in 
paste  ? 

Vicky. 

Oh,  yes,  and  she  never  knew  the  difference. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  11 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
He  lived  on  the  bracelet  for  years. 

Miss  Potts. 
The  villain ! 

Vicky. 

And  she'd  never  have  found  out,  only  he  con- 
fessed on  his  death  bed. 

Miss  Potts. 
How  very  singular. 

Isabel. 

Whenever  he  wanted  money  he  took  a  diamond 
from  the  setting  and  sold  it. 

Vicky. 
How  he  must  have  hurt  his  nails. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
Don't  be  silly. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Plaintively.']     But  what's  all  that  got  to  do 
with  my  necklace? 

Isabel. 

One  can't  help  recalling  it  now  because,  you 
know,  you  said  you  hoped  nothing  like  that  would 


12  MRS.   GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

happen  to  you,  and  that  you  always  leave  your 
jewel-cases  lying  about  on  your  dressing-table. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Yes,  I  remember  thinking  at  the  time  how  fool- 
ish it  was  of  Mrs.  Gorringe  to  say  that. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

I  thought  I  was  quite  safe  to  say  it  here.     Let 
me  see.    Who  was  at  luncheon  yesterday? 

Isabel. 
We  were  all  there. 

Miss  Potts. 

[Emphatically. '\     I  wasn^t.     I  assure  you  this 
is  all  news  to  me. 

Vicky. 

[Giggling.]     Poor  Potty,  she  thinks  we  suspect 
her. 

Isabel. 

[Seriously  to  Vicky.]     This  isn't  a  joke. 
Mrs.  Gorringe. 


No. 


Isabel. 


I  mean  all  the  family  and  the  people  staying 
here,  Mrs.  Gorringe,  Captain  Mowbray  and  David. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  13 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[With  sudden  excitement.}  And  Pipkin  was 
waiting  at  table. 

Isabel. 
No,  mother,  Charles  was. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

The  same  thing.  He's  probably  in  love  with  her 
—  she  has  quite  a  tolerable  figure.  And  I  bet  you 
anything  you  like  he  went  straight  from  the  table 
and  told  her. 

Isabel. 

You've  no  right  to  accuse  the  servants  in  that 
general  way. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Well  —  what  else  would  you  do  ? 

Isabel. 
Send  for  a  detective. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Of  course.  [Rising  and  going  eagerly  towards 
Isabel.]  And  I'll  run  down  to  the  Post  Office 
and  give  them  a  description  of  my  necklace. 

Isabel. 
Why  the  Post  Office? 


14  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

I  thought  that  was  the  kind  of  place  one  would 
go  to  in  a  case  of  this  sort. 

[Colonel  Jardine  is  heard  talking  and 
laughing  boisterously  without. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

By  jove,  Mowbray,  I  never  saw  you  in  better 
form.     Ha  —  Ha  —  Ha  — ! 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Your  father!     All  sit  down  and  pretend  noth- 
ing has  happened. 

[They  all  sit  down  with  the  exception  of 
Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

If  we  pretend  nothing  has  happened  I   shall 
never  get  my  necklace  back. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
Hush ! 

[Mrs.  Gorringe  sits  down  reluctantly. 

Miss  Potts. 
I  think  I  should  tell  Colonel  Jardine. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Yes. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  15 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Not  till  after  dinner.  That's  the  best  time  to 
tell  him  things.     His  temper's  so  uncertain. 

[Colonel  Jardine  is  again  heard  laughing 
without. 

Vicky. 
He  sounds  in  a  good  temper  now. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

His  good  tempers  are  more  trying  to  put  up 
with  than  his  bad  ones. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Without,  laughing  boisterously  as  he  speaks.'] 
By  jove,  yes.    Hottest  finish  I  ever  saw. 

[Colonel  Jardine  enters  explosively.  He 
is  a  rubicund,  excitable,  middle-aged 
man.  He  wears  plain  riding  clothes. 
When  he  speaks,  Mrs.  Jardine  lays  her 
cup  on  her  lap,  closes  her  eyes  and  con- 
tracts her  face  as  if  in  intense  suffering. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Rubbing  his  hands  together.']  Well,  well, 
well.  We  beat  'em  —  four  to  three.  Close  score, 
eh,  girls?  [Claps  his  hands  together  and  laughs, 
pokes  Mrs.  Jardine  in  the  back.]  D'you  hear 
that,  mother  —  four  to  three? 


16  MRS,    GORRINGE'S   NECKI^ACE 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Bows  her  head,  her  eyes  still  closed  as  if  suf- 
fering.}    I  hear. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Shaking  hands  with  Miss  Potts.]  How 
d'you  do,  Miss  Potts?  You  saw  the  game.  As  I 
was  just  saying  to  Mowbray,  "  Hottest  finish  I 
ever  saw.^^ 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[As  before.']     We  heard  you. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Mowbray  saved  the  day.  We  put  him  on  the 
last  minute,  when  David  didn't  turn  up.  Shot 
three  goals  himself.  I  believe  he  would  have  shot 
another,  but  just  then  the  bell  went —  [Imitat- 
ing  gong.]     "  Wang-wang-wang-wang-wang !  " 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Putting  her  fingers  in  her  ears,  exclaims 
loudly.']  Christopher!  Please  confine  yourself 
to  speech  and  laughter. 

Isabel. 
Tea,  father? 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Tea,  tea,  tea  ?  Yes.  Give  us  some  tea.  [Turn- 
ing to  the  tea-table,  he  faces  Mrs.   Gorringe.] 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  17 

Why,   Mrs.   Gorringe,   what's  the   matter?     You 
look  as  doleful  as  I  don't  know  what. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

So  would  you.  [To  Isabel.]  I'll  go  and  put 
on  my  hat  and  wait  for  you  in  the  hall. 

Isabel. 
All  right. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[To  Mrs.  Gorringe,  as  she  goes  towards  the 
door.]  Are  you  going  to  send  the  h'm  h'm  about 
the  h'm  h'm? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
H'm  h'm. 

Colonel  Jardine. 
What's  h'm  h'm  and  h'm  h'm? 

Mrs.  Jardine.  - 

Something  you  don't  know  about.  Don't  tell 
him,  girls. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

I  insist  on  knowing.  I  won't  have  this  talking 
in  hieroglyphics  before  me. 

Isabel. 
He'll  have  to  be  told  soon. 

Colonel  Jardine. 
Told,  told  what? 


18  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Mrs.  Jaedine,  Miss  Potts,  Isabel  and  Vicky. 
[Together.]     Mrs.   Gorringe  has  lost  her  dia- 
mond necklace. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Speaking  with  the  others.l  Fve  lost  my  dia- 
mond necklace. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Unable  to  hear  a  word.']  What!  Don't  all 
shout  at  me  like  that. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
My  diamond  necklace  — 

Colonel  Jardine. 
Well  — well.     What  about  it? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

It's  lost. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Excitably.]  The  devil  it  is.  By  Jove !  Some- 
thing must  be  done. 

Isabel. 

[Gomes  to  Colonel  Jardine,  lays  her  hand  on 
his  arm  and  says  quietly.]  We  are  going  to  wire 
to  Scotland  Yard.  [To  Mrs.  Gorringe.]  We 
might  write  the  telegram  here. 

[Takes  a  sheet  of  paper  from  the  paper-rack 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  19 

and  a  pencil  from  the  pen-tray  and  lays 
them  on  the  writing-table,  Mrs. 
GoRRiNGE  sits  down  and  writes.  Miss 
Potts  rises  and  takes  leave  of  Mrs. 
Jardine. 

Vicky. 

Going,  Potty? 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
[Sharply.']     Vicky,  don't  be  impertinent. 

ViOKT. 

I'll  go  with  you. 

Isabel. 

Now  Vicky  and  everybody,  please  don't  tell  any- 
one we  are  going  to  have  a  detective  in  the  house. 
The  servants  aren't  to  know  who  he  is. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
Especially  Pipkin. 

Vicky. 
All  right.    Come  on,  Potty. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Vicky! 

[Vicky  and  Miss  Potts  go  out 


20  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Isabel. 
Is  your  telegram  ready,  Mrs.  Gorringe? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

How  will  this  do?  [Looks  round  at  the  others 
before  she  begins  to  read  gravely^  in  a  clear,  high 
voice.]  "  Lost,  a  beautiful  diamond  necklace. 
Five  large  drops  in  front.  One  pearl  clasp  behind.^' 
[Isabel  goes  into  a  fit  of  laughter  and  turns  away. 
Mrs.  Gorringe  looks  at  her  in  surprise.]  What's 
the  matter  with  it? 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Fussily.]  You  don't  need  so  many  words. 
See.  Let  me  cross  some  of  them  out.  [He  signs 
to  Mrs.  Gorringe  to  get  out  of  her  chair  and  let 
him  sit  there.  She  rises  and  stands  beside  him, 
watching  him  as  he  hastily  crosses  out  words.] 
Say,  "  Lost,  beautiful  diamond  necklace  !  "  You 
don't  need  to  say  "  a "  beautiful  diamond  neck- 
lace. Never  use  the  articles  "  a,"  "  an  "  and  "  the  " 
in  a  telegram.  You  don't  even  need  "  beautiful " 
or  "  diamond."  [Crossing  out  words.]  Just  say, 
"  Lost  necklace." 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

But  they  might  think  it  was  nothing  but  a 
string  of  imitation  pearls,  and  that  wouldn^t  be 
worth  sending  a  detective  for. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  21 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Well,  leave  "  diamond  '^  in  if  you  like.  [Puz- 
zling over  paper,]  What^s  the  next?  I  can^t 
read  your  writing. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Bends  over  him.'}  "  Five  large  drops  in 
front." 

Colonel  Jardine. 

You  can  save  three  words  there.  Just  say 
"  Drops  front  "  and  —  [Pouncing  on  words  with 
his  pencil  and  crossing  them  out.]  "  Clasp  be- 
hind." 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Watching  them  with  contempt  from  her  chair.] 
If  they  know  anything  at  all  at  Scotland  Yard 
the/11  know  the  clasp  wouldn^t  be  in  front  and 
the  drops  behind. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Yes,  that^s  true.  We  can  save  two  more  words. 
[Crossing  out  words.]  Just  say  — "  Drops  — 
clasp." 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

That's  not  sense. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
No.     That's  what  I  think. 


22  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[^Getting  confused  between  them.^  Well,  just 
say  "  Drops  front,  clasp  hind." 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Snapping  him  up.]  Hind!  Hind  isn't  a 
word. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Getting  angry.]  You^re  getting  me  so  mixed 
up  I  don't  know  what  I'm  doing.  [Puzzles  over 
the  telegram.] 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Well,  send  them  something  they  can  understand. 
I'm  sure  I  shouldn't  know  what  to  make  of  it  if 
I  received  a  telegram  that  said  "  Drops  front  — 
clasp  hind."  I  should  suppose  Front  and  Hind 
were  two  men,  shouldn't  you,  Mrs.  Gorringe? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Yes,  I  should. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Angrily.]  Oh,  well,  if  you  think  you  can  do 
it  better  yourself.  [Rises,  throws  his  pencil  on 
the  table,  muttering  as  he  goes  towards  the  door.] 
What's  the  good  of  trying  to  be  business-like  with 
a  pack  of  women  ? 

[Colonel  Jardine  goes  out  fuming. 


MRS.   GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE  23 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Nearly  crying  as  she  looks  at  the  ruins  of  her 
telegram.]  Oh,  isn^t  it  too  bad?  And  the  thief 
may  be  bargaining  with  the  pawnbroker  at  this 
very  moment,  and  here's  my  telegram  worse  than 
not  begun. 

[Isabel  takes  the  pencil,  turns  the  paper 
<  over,   scribbles   a   few    words   and    then 

gives  the  paper  to  Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Isabel. 
Let  us  go  and  send  that. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Reading  the  paper.]  But  you've  said  nothing 
about  my  necklace.     • 

Isabel. 

It's  so  unnecessary. 

[Captain  Mowbray  enters.  He  is  a 
strong,  self-reliant  man,  about  forty-five, 
grizzled  and  tanned  with  hard  out-door 
life. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[All  smiles.]     Oh.     Here's  Captain  Mowbray. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Captain  Mowbray!  Isabel  shall  give  you  tea 
before  she  goes  and  sends  the —  [to  Isabel]  you 
know  what. 


24  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Mowbray. 

[Smiling  at  Isabel.]  Yes,  do  stay  and  give  me 
tea  before  you  go  and  send  the  —  you  know  what, 
I  don't. 

Isabel. 

[Regretfully.]     I'm  sorry,  but  it's  very  urgent. 

Mowbray. 
I'm  sorry. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

But  still,  there  is  no  need  for  us  both  to  go,  is 
there,  Isabel? 

Isabel. 

[Intending  to  stay,  and  offering  the  telegram  to    , 
Mrs.  Gorringe.]     No. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Sweetly,  to  Mowbray.]  So  Fll  stay  and  give 
you  your  tea. 

[Seats  herself  at  the  tea-table  and  begins 
to  make  Captain  Mowbray's  tea. 
Isabel  looks  annoyed  a  moment,  then 
goes  out  with  the  telegram. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

I  feel  so  relieved  now  my  telegram  has  nearly 
started. 


MRS,    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  25 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

You'd  better  be  careful,  Mrs.  Gorringe,  or 
you'll  let  the  cat  out  of  the  bag. 

[Mrs.  Jardine  goes  out. 

Mowbray. 

[Sitting  at  the  tea-table  with  Mrs.  Gorringe.] 
Have  you  got  a  secret,  Mrs.  Gorringe? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Yes.    Does  that  make  me  very  interesting? 

Mowbray. 
Not  unless  you  tell  it. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Pretending  to  he  annoyed.']  Oh.  How  un- 
gallant  you  are. 

Mowbray. 

To  suggest  you  don't  need  a  secret  to  make  you 
interesting  ? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Smiling  with  pleasure  at  the  compliment.'] 
Now,  Captain  Mowbray,  I  believe  you're  making 
fun  of  me.  It's  very  naughty  of  you.  [Giving 
him  his  tea.]  There!  [Archly.]  You  don't 
deserve  it. 


26  MRS,    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Mowbray. 
Aren't  you  going  to  give  me  something  with  it  ? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
[Smiles  and  drops  her  eyes.']     How  dare  you! 

Mowbray. 
I  mean  to  eat. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Slightly  confused  at  her  mistahe.']  Oh.  [Of- 
fers him  cahe  and  hread-and-hutter  with  both 
hands.]     Cake  or  bread-and-butter? 

Mowbray. 

Cake,  please.  [Puts  out  his  hand  to  take  a 
piece  of  cake.] 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Playfully  snatching  the  cahe  plate  away  and 
offering  him  only  the  hread-and-hutter.]  No,  you 
must  have  bread-and-butter.  Good  little  boys  al- 
ways begin  their  tea  with  a  piece  of  bread-and- 
butter. 

Mowbray. 

[Taking  hread-and-hutter.]  I'm  so  hungry, 
I'll  take  what  I  can  get. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
[Relenting,   offers  him   the   cake   and  says  in 


MRS.   GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  27 

baby  language.']  Poo'  ickle  sing.  Then  it  s'all 
have  its  cake.  [Lays  down  the  plates] .  Now,  Fm 
not  going  to  let  you  talk  any  more  nonsense. 
[Turns  seriously  to  him.]  Tell  me  all  about  your- 
self. 

Mowbray. 
All? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Yes.    Begin  at  the  beginning. 

Mowbray. 

Well  —  in  the  first  place  —  I  was  born  —  shall 
we  say  —  forty-two  years  ago  ? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Oh.    Just  Mr.  Gorringe's  age.     Go  on. 

Mowbray. 
Do  you  want  the  poor  but  honest  parents? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Coquettishly.]  Kow,  you're  making  fun 
again.  I  shall  get  up  and  go  out  of  the  room  if 
you  aren't  sensible.  [Serionsly.]  I  want  to  hear 
about  your  travels  and  experiences.  It  seems  to 
me  as  if  your  life  must  have  been  quite  a  panorama 
of  romances  and  adventures.  • 

Mowbray. 
I  suppose  I  have  knocked  about  a  good  bit. 


28  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

I  judged  so  from  things  Vyq  heard  you  drop  at 
meals. 

Mowbray. 

[Protesting  humourously.']  I  never  drop  things 
at  meals. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Playfully  threatening  to  slap  him.']  Oh,  now, 
I  mean  remarks,  silly. 

Mowbray. 
Oh. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Resting  her  cheeh  on  her  hand,  and  looldng  at 
him  with  serious  interest.]  You  know,  I  could 
picture  you  in  a  storm  at  sea  —  standing  daunt- 
lessly  on  the  poop  —  or  single-handed  cutting  your 
way  through  an  army  of  Dervishes  with  the  col- 
ours, or  rescuing  a  Spanish  girl  or  —  things  of 
that  sort. 

Mowbray. 

[Amused.]  You'll  make  me  feel  quite  a  hero 
if  you  go  on. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
[Making  eyes  at  him.]    I  think  you  are  a  hero. 

Mowbray. 
Oh,  dear  no.    I\e  always  been  a  most  ordinary 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  29 

person.  I  went  into  the  Army  because  my  father 
did.  I  left  because  it  cost  too  much.  I  went  to 
South  Africa  because  I  couldn^t  think  of  any- 
where else  to  go.  I  made  a  fortune  because  I  had 
good  luck.    You  can't  make  a  hero  out  of  that. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

When  the  war  broke  out  you  offered  to  lay 
down  your  life  for  your  country. 

Mowbray. 

Oh,  well  —  you  see  I  happened  to  be  on  the  spot 
and  I  knew  the  country  and  that  sort  of  thing, 
so  I  wrote  to  the  War  Office  and  asked  them  if  they 
wanted  me. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Yes.    Well,  now  tell  me  about  the  women. 

Mowbray. 

[Surprised  at  her  abrupt  change.l  What 
women  ? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Which  do  you  like  the  best  —  foreigners  or  us  ? 

Mowbray. 
I  like  women  individually  —  not  geographically. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Of  course,  but  I  never  can  see  how  an  English- 


30  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

man  could  bring  himself  to  fall  in  love  with  a 
brown  woman. 

Mowbray. 

If  we^re  talking  of  love —     \_Pauses.'\ 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Seizing  her  chance.']     Now  I  suppose  you  are 
going  to  tell  me  you  are  in  love. 

Mowbray. 
[Seriously.']     Have  you  noticed  it? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Archly.]     With    someone    you    met    in    this 
house,  no  doubt. 

Mowbray. 
You  have  noticed  it. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
[Smiling  coyly.]     Wretch. 

Mowbray. 
Has  she? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Don't  be  absurd. 

Mowbray. 
Do  tell  me. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  31 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

I  shan't.  [Enter  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Jardine. 
Mrs.  Gorringe  is  visibly  annoyed  with  this  inter' 
ruption  and  says  under  her  breath.l    Bother ! 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Still  here,  Mrs.  Gorringe?  We  are  going  to 
take  a  turn  in  the  garden  before  we  dress  for 
dinner. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

That  will  be  nice.  [Rises  and  goes  to  Mrs. 
Jardine.]  Captain  Mowbray  has  been  telling  me 
such  interesting  stories  —  all  about  his  life  in 
South  Africa. 

Mowbray. 

Mrs.  Gorringe  was  trying  to  make  me  out  a  hero, 
so  I  had  to  confess  I'm  really  only  an  adventurer. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Laughing.]  Come,  come,  come!  That's  a 
pretty  name  to  call  yourself. 

[Colonel  Jardine  and  Captain  Mowbray 
converse  together. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Glances  at  Captain  Mowbray,  then  drops  her 
voice  to  speah  to  Mrs.  Gorringe.]  Did  he  say 
anything  about  his  passion? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
[Coyly.]     How  did  you  guess? 


32  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

From  the  way  he  looked  at  her  when  she  went 
out. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Puzzled.]     Who? 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Surely  you  noticed.     He^s  over  head  and  ears 
in  love  with  Isabel. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Oh,  indeed.     If  you  think  that  I^m  afraid  you'll 
find  yourself  very  much  mistaken. 

[Mrs.  Gorringe  goes  out. 

Mowbray. 

[Calling  off  from  the  open  window.]     David! 
We're  in  here! 

[David  Cairn  enters.  He  is  a  handsome 
young  officer  ah  out  twenty-seven.  His 
demeanour  is  depressed,  though  he  tries 
to  conceal  this  under  an  off-hand  man- 
ner. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Fussily.]     0,  David,  why  didn't  you  turn  up 
for  polo? 

David. 
I  missed  my  train. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  33 

Colonel  Jabdine. 
You  ought  to  have  wired. 

David. 

Yes.  I  didn't  think  of  it.  And  I  knew  — 
[indicating  Mowhray}  Frank  would  play  if  I 
didn't  turn  up. 

Colonel  Jardine. 
That  doesn't  excuse  you. 

Mowbray. 

[Good-naturedly.']  Let  him  off  this  time, 
Colonel.  I  suppose  he  has  a  lot  of  things  to 
attend  to  before  he  sails. 

David. 

Yes,  and  we  never  know  what  day  we  may 
get  our  marching  orders. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

I  know.  I  know.  But  when  you  went  to 
London  yesterday  you  said  you'd  come  back  to- 
day by  the  two  o'clock  train. 

David. 
I  told  you  I  missed  it. 

Colonel  Jardine. 
Have  you  just  come  now  by  the  five  o'clock? 


34  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

David. 
Yes. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

I  really  don't  think  it's  of  so  much  importance 
how  many  trains  he  missed. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

But  still  he  ought  to  have  wired.  It  doesn't 
take  long  to  write  a  telegram  —  if  you  don't  have 
a  lot  of  women  buzzing  round  you. 

[Colonel  and  Mrs.  Jardine  go  out  into 
the  garden.  David  sits  at  the  tea-table 
and  helps  himself  to  tea  during  the  fol- 
lowing scene. 

David. 
I  say,  who  was  that  girl  watching  the  polo  with 


Isabel  and  Vicky? 

Mowbray. 

A  Miss  Potts. 

Why? 
David. 

Oh.     I  thought 

it  looked  like 

someone 

else. 

Mowbray. 

[Puzzled.']     Looked?     How   did  you  see  her? 
I  thought  you'd  only  just  come  from  the  station. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  35 

David. 

[Confused.']  Yes,  but  I  saw  them  for  a  min- 
ute —  from  a  distance  —  on  my  way  up. 

Mowbray. 

I  don^t  see  how  you  could  possibly  have  seen 
them  from  anywhere  between  the  station  and  the 
house.  You  can  only  just  see  the  polo  ground 
from  the  upstairs  windows. 

David. 

I  was  in  my  room  for  a  minute  —  just  now. 
That^s  how  I  saw  them. 

Mowbray. 

But  we'd  finished  playing  more  than  half  an 
hour  before  your  train  came  in.  You  said  you'd 
come  by  the  five  o'clock. 

David. 
Yes,  but  —  I  made  a  mistake. 

Mowbray. 

I  do  wish  you'd  learn  to  be  straightforward. 
[He  emphasizes  this  remark  hy  clapping 
David  on  the  shoulder.     David,  in  his 
nervousness,  lifting  his  cup  to  his  lips, 
spills  some  tea  on  his  hnee. 


36  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

David. 

Damn  it,  IVe  spilt  my  tea  —  I  haven't  a  hand- 
kerchief. 

[Feels  for  a  handkerchief,  and  finds  he 
hasnt  one.  Mowbray  hands  him  his, 
David  scrubs  his  knee  with  it  as  Mow- 
BEAY  speaks, 

Mowbray. 

You  never  seem  to  think  it  matters  if  you  fib 
or  not,  if  it  saves  you  the  trouble  of  a  little  expla- 
nation. Keally,  old  man,  it  won't  do.  There,  I'm 
not  going  to  preach  to  you  again. 

[Charles,  the  footman,  enters  to  clear 
away  the  tea  things,  Mowbray  lights 
a  cigarette, 

David. 

[To  Charles]  All  right,  I've  finished.  [Look- 
ing at  the  handkerchief  as  he  goes  towards  Mow- 
bray.] I've  made  rather  a  mess  of  it.  I'll  put 
it  in  my  wash.  [Puts  handkerchief  in  his  pocket. 
He  has  no  ulterior  motive  in  doing  this.  Charles 
goes  out,  having  cleared  away  the  tea  things,^ 

Mowbray. 
David,  I  need  a  confidant. 

David. 

Well. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  37 

Mowbray. 
Now  look  interested. 

David. 
I  am  —  awfully  interested. 

Mowbray. 

You  see,  I've  finished  fighting  and  knocking 
about,  and  I've  made  my  pile,  and  I  think  it's 
getting  about  time  I  settled  down. 


David. 

Mowbray. 
David. 


And  married? 

Bright  boy. 

Who? 

Mowbray. 

You're  not  as  bright  as  Mrs.  Gorringe.  She 
said  she'd  noticed  it  at  once.  And  I  thought  I'd 
displayed  such  wonderful  reserve.  We  always  do, 
you  know. 

David. 

I've  noticed  that  you  seem  rather  fond  of  being 
with  —  a  certain  person. 

Mowbray. 
A  certain  Miss —  ? 

David. 
Isabel. 


38  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Mowbray. 
[Smiling.]     Isabel!     I    wonder    how    soon    / 
shall  call  her  Isabel.     I  really  think  she  rather 
likes  me,  don't  yon? 

David. 

I  know  she  likes  you  very  much,  but  I  don't 
know  that  it's  anything  more. 

Mowbray. 

Well,  my  dear  fellow,  I  don't  see  how  you 
should  know.     It's  what  Fve  got  to  find  out. 

David. 
I  wouldn't  say  anything  yet. 

Mowbray. 
[A  little  surprised  and  amused.']     Why  not? 

David. 
Because  —  I  wouldn't. 

Mowbray. 

But  I  feel  in  great  form  for  saying  something 
now,  —  since  Mrs.  Gorringe  made  me  out  such 
a  hero.  And  if  you've  noticed,  and  Mrs.  Gor- 
ringe has  noticed,  she  must  have  noticed  herself. 
[Sees  Isabel  from  the  window.]  By  jove,  there 
she  is! 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  39 

David. 

[Uneasily.]  But,  Frank,  I  really  don't  think 
this  is  a  good  moment. 

Mowbray. 

Eubbish,  David;  it's  an  ideal  moment.  Get- 
ting dusk;  everybody  out  of  the  way  till  dinner 
—  except  you,  —  can't  you  get  out  of  the  way 
till  dinner-time? 

[Isabel  enters. 
Isabel. 

David!  Do  you  mind  ordering  the  cart  to 
meet  the  seven  twenty-five?  The  new  groom  is 
so  stupid,  he  never  gets  a  message  right,  or  I 
wouldn't  ask  you  to  do  it. 

David. 
That's  all  right.     [He  hesitates.'} 

Isabel. 

Now,  please,  or  he'll  have  gone  home. 

[David  looks  at  Mowbray^  then  at  Isabel, 
and  goes  out  rather  reluctantly.  Isabel 
watches  him  till  he  is  out  of  sight. 

Isabel. 
Is  anything  the  matter  with  David? 

Mowbray. 
Not  that  I  know  of. 


40  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Isabel. 
I  want  to  talk  to  you  about  him. 

[Sits  on  the  sofa. 

Mowbray. 

I  want  to  talk  to  you  about  myself.  [Sits  near 
her.l 

Isabel. 

Afterwards.  [Throughout  the  following  scene 
her  manner  is  nothing  more  than  friendly.  She 
does  7iot  think  Mowbray  is  in  love  with  her. 
His  tenderness  and  earnestness  do  not  make  the 
impression  on  her  that  they  might  at  another 
time,  as  she  is  now  absorbed  in  thoughts  of 
David.]  I  shouldn't  say  what  Fm  going  to,  only 
I  trust  you  more  than  any  man  I  know. 

Mowbray. 

You've  made  me  feel  prouder  than  I  ever  felt 
before. 

Isabel. 

I'm  glad  you're  so  fond  of  —  David.  [He  be- 
trays disappointment  tvhen  she  names  David.] 
I've  often  wondered  why  it  is.  You  are  so  dif- 
ferent. 

Mowbray. 

Are  we? 

Isabel. 

Oh,  yes  —  in  everything.  The  way  you  play 
polo,  for  instance.     You  are  so  terribly  in  earnest. 


MRS.    GORRmGE'S   NECKLACE  41 

I  was  watching  you  this  afternoon.  Your  whole 
life  seemed  to  depend  on  winning  the  game.  And 
when  David  plays,  I  can't  help  seeing  that  he 
always  knows  what  a  good  picture  he  makes. 
[Mowbray  laughs.  Smiles  at  him.']  He  does 
look  very  nice,  doesn't  he? 

MOAVBRAY. 

I  rather  like  his  little  vanities.     He  wouldn't 
be  so  —  so  David  without  them. 

Isabel. 

He  is  forgiven  many  things  just  because  he  is 
David. 

Mowbray. 

A  charming  personality  covers  a  multitude  of 
sins. 

Isabel. 

Everyone   likes   David,#  but —    What   do   you 
think  of  him? 

Mowbray. 
I  never  think  what  I  think  of  people  I  like. 

Isabel. 
Do  you  think  I  oughtn't  to  have  asked  you? 

Mowbray. 
Oh,  no.     Because  I  know  you  like  him  too. 


42  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Isabel. 

Yes.  But  a  girl  can  know  so  very  little  about 
a  man's  real  life.  You  see  David  as  one  man  of 
the  world  sees  another;  that's  why  I  ask  you 
what  you  think  of  him. 

Mowbray. 

When  I  first  met  David  —  I  thought  him  a 
charming  fellow  with  a  weak  character.  Now  — 
several  years  later  —  I  think  precisely  the  same 
thing. 

Isabel. 

Yes.     I  know,  he  isn't  bad  —  but,  oh,  so  weak. 

Mowbray. 

But  not  so  young. 

Isabel. 
No.     • 

Mowbray. 

And  if  a  man  doesn't  check  the  weaknesses  that 
are  part  of  his  youth,  they  become  part  of  his 
character. 

Isabel. 

I'm  afraid  that's  true. 

Mowbray. 

He  is  one  of  those  people  who  are  so  absorbed 
in  the  present  that  they  learn  nothing  from  the 
past   and   prepare    nothing   for   the    future.     Of 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  43 

course,  he  is  always  resolving  to  spend  his  time 
more  profitably,  —  but  somehow  he  never  does, 
—  and  he  mistakes  these  good  resolutions  for 
practical  virtues.  Whenever  he  yields  to  tempta- 
tion he  promptly  suffers  remorse.  He  considers 
remorse  is  a  virtue  and  sufficient  penalty  for  his 
sin.  Then  instead  of  principles  he  has  a  few 
nice,  gentlemanly  instincts  —  and  these  I  think 
constitute  his  whole  chance  of  scraping  through 
life  respectably.  He  has  no  conception  that  char- 
acters are  built  and  don't  grow.  It's  pitiful, 
isn't  it  ?  I  know  so  many  men  like  him  —  wasters 
and  drifters  —  and  the  very  best  company  in  the 
world. 

Isabel. 

They  need  someone  strong  to  guide  them. 

MOWBEAY. 

Unless    it's    in    the   wrong    direction  —  and 
then,  —  anyone  will  do. 

Isabel. 

I  had  to  ask  you,  I  must  know.  And  there 
is  no  one  else  in  the  world  I  can  ask.  [Pauses 
before  she  says,  simply.']  We  have  been  engaged 
for  three  years. 

Mowbray. 

[Concealing  his  disappointment  with  diffi- 
culty.'] Oh,  I  didn't  know.  I  shouldn't  hav€ 
said  that  if  I'd  known. 


44  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Isabel. 

I'm  grateful  to  you.  You  have  only  put  into 
words  what  I  couldn't  help  feeling  was  true.  I 
think  if  we  could  be  married  soon  I  might  help 
him  to  be  the  man  I  used  to  hope  he  would  be 
of  himself.  But  I  don't  see  how  we  can  be. 
David  has  nothing  but  his  pay.  I  have  a  home 
here,  but  that's  all.  Mother  and  I  lived  almost 
on  charity  after  my  father  died,  till  mother  mar- 
ried Colonel  Jardine  —  so  I  have  no  money  of 
my  own.  That's  why  we  have  had  to  keep  our 
engagement  secret.  When  David  asked  to  be 
engaged  to  me  three  years  ago,  they  wouldn't 
hear  of  it.  They  think  it  is  all  over  between  us 
now.     But  it's  far  from  all  over. 

M0V7BRAY. 

Do  you  still  love  him? 

Isabel. 

[Earnestly.']  Yes,  yes.  I  do  love  him.  But 
love  like  mine  is  such  tyranny  that  sometimes 
I  have  almost  prayed  to  escape  from  it. 

Mowbray. 

[Tenderly.']  Poor  child.  I  know  you  are 
brave  and  self-reliant.  [Trying  to  force  a  lighter 
tone  through  his  emotion.]  You  are  the  general 
of  this  household.  Anyone  can  see  that.  [His 
emotion  getting  the  better  of  him.]     But  it  is 


MRS,    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  45 

hard  to  always  have  to  brace  yourself  to  be  a 
prop  to  the  weak.  I  know  you  must  often  grow 
weary,  and  long  to  lean  on  someone  strong. 

Isabel. 

[Half-sohhing.']  Don't  —  don't  say  that. 
[Trying  to  smile  through  her  tears.l  I  have  to 
go  on  —  being  the  prop. 

Mowbray. 

If  we  could  bear  one  another's  burdens,  but 
we  can't  carry  them  far.  We  all  live  our  inmost 
lives  alone.  [Enter  David.]  Ah,  David,  —  fin- 
ished your  stroll?     I'll  go  and  take  mine. 

[Captain  Mowbray  goes  out. 

David. 

[With  a  genuinely  generous  impulse.']  Isabel. 
I'll  go  away.     I'll  set  you  free  if  you  like. 

Isabel. 
[Taken  aback.']     David. 

David. 

Am  I  standing  between  you  and  him? 

Isabel. 

How  can  you  say  that  ?  Captain  Mowbray  and 
I  have  never  been  anything  more  than  friends. 


46  MRS,    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

David. 

I  thought —  [Takes  her  hy  the  arm  and  turns 
her  towards  him,  looking  in  her  face.]  What 
has  he  been  saying  to  you? 

Isabel. 

[Simply.}  We  were  talking  of  you.  I  told 
him  of  our  engagement. 

David. 

I  thought  you  were  beginning  to  care  for  him 
more  than  you  used,  and —  [Hesitates,  drops 
his  hold  of  her  and  turns  away.]  Fm  so  unhappy. 
[He  sits  down  and  buries  his  face  in  his  hands. 
She  stands  looking  at  him  with  mournful  resig- 
nation, waiting  for  him  to  continue.]  You  don't 
know  what  I've  been  through  this  last  week.  I 
felt  as  if  I  should  go  mad,  I  was  so  angry  and 
jealous  —  seeing  how  you  seemed  to  care  for  him, 
and  how  he  cared  for  you  and  knowing  how  un- 
worthy I  am.  I  thought  you  were  slipping  away 
from  me.  The  other  day  I  thought  I'd  make 
one  last  effort  to  keep  you  —  so  I  went  and  got 
that.  [He  takes  a  marriage  license  from  his 
pocket  and  shows  it  to  her.  She  perukes  it  before 
she  speaks.] 

Isabel. 

You  went  to  the  Eegistry  Office  and  got  a 
license  ? 

David. 

I  realised  what  a  mad  thing  it  was  to  do  as 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  47 

soon  as  I  saw  you.  You  were  talking  to  him.  I 
daren^t  show  it  to  you,  so  I  went  away.  That 
was  yesterday.  When  I  left  here  I  fully  deter- 
mined never  to  come  back.  I  made  up  my  mind 
to  write  and  tell  you  you  were  free  and  that  I'd 
gone  away  for  ever. 

Isabel. 

[Calmly;  returning  the  license  to  him,^  Why 
did  you  come  back  ? 

David. 

When  I  got  to  London  I  took  all  my  money  out 
of  the  Bank.  You  know  it  isn't  much,  but  I 
thought  it  would  be  enough  to  get  me  abroad 
somewhere.  I  wanted  to  get  out  of  it  all.  I 
was  desperate;  then,  all  at  once,  I  thought  I'd 
give  my  luck  one  last  chance.  I  went  to  a  place 
I  know  and  gambled.  I  thought  perhaps  I'd  win 
—  win  a  lot,  so  that  I  could  come  back  and  ask 
you  to  marry  me  at  once.  [Despondently.']  Of 
course  I  lost  everything.  [Bitterly.']  That's  why 
I  came  back. 

Isabel. 

0,  David  —  and  you  promised  me  you  wouldn't 
gamble  again. 

•     David. 

Do  you  want  me  to  set  you  free?  I  will,  if 
you  want. 


48  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Isabel. 

Vwe  been  thinking  it  might  be  wiser.  [He 
turns  away.]  Suppose  we  do  set  each  other  free. 
What  will  become  of  you? 

David. 

It  wouldn^t  matter  much  what  became  of  me 
then. 

Isabel. 

It  would  matter  a  great  deal  to  me.  0,  David, 
I've  been  very  loyal  to  you  these  three  years,  but 
when  you  disappoint  me  so  and  break  your  prom- 
ises—  you  make  it  very  hard  for  me.  You  seem 
to  have  no  ambition  and  no  sense  of  responsibil- 
ity. You  show  so  little  moral  force  in  every  way 
that  I  really  can't  see  what  makes  you  stop  short 
of  crime. 

David. 

I've  tried  to  keep  straight  for  your  sake. 

Isabel. 
But  I  want  you  to  do  right  because  it  is  right. 

David. 

That's  the  way  Frank  talks  to  me.  He's  strong 
—  so  are  you.  You  both  have  a  lot  of  what  you 
call  moral  force.  That's  why  you  can't  under- 
stand us  who  have  hardly  any.  Frank  was  born 
to  rise.  He  can  do  it  alone.  But  I'm  what  the 
woman  I  love  makes  me. 


MRS.   GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  49 

Isabel. 
You  make  me  so  afraid. 

David. 

I  suppose  I'm  not  worth  saving.  It's  wasting 
your  good  life  to  try  and  make  something  of 
mine.     You'd  better  give  me  up. 

Isabel. 
How  can  I  ?     Suppose  you  loved  a  bad  woman  ? 

David. 
Well? 

,  Isabel. 

How  could  I  bear  to  see  you  dragged  down  by 
a  bad  woman,  knowing  that  I  might  have  saved 
you?  [Goes  to  him  with  sudden  impulse,  kneels 
beside  him  and  puts  her  arms  about  hi7n.'\  David ! 
David!  You  must  try  —  try  hard  —  for  my 
sake. 

David. 

[Holds  her  in  his  arms,  spealcs  brokenly.'] 
Don't  let  me  go.  It's  only  you  can  save  me. 
I'll  try  to  be  different.  I  can't  do  it  alone.  But 
I'll  try  to  be  what  you  want  me  to  be ;  I'll  begin 
again  —  where  we  began  three  years  ago.  You 
trusted  me  then.  I'll  try  to  make  you  proud  of 
me  again. 

Isabel. 

[Half -crying,  as  she  leans  against  him.l     I  was 


50  MRS.    GOBRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

SO  proud  of  you  then.  You  will  try,  dear  —  won't 
you?  Oh,  you  will  try.  [He  takes  her  in  his 
arms  and  kisses  her.  Then  she  rises,  still  hold- 
ing his  hand.]  It  will  be  hard  work,  David. 
We  shall  need  all  our  courage. 

[Vicky  enters  with  an  open  telegram  in 
her  hand. 

Vicky. 

Isabel.  [Isabel  goes  towards  her.  David  re- 
mains seated  and  doesnt  hear  what  they  say.] 
Here  is  a  telegram  from  the  detective.  He'll  be 
here  on  the  seven  twenty-five. 

Isabel. 

[Reading  the  telegram.]  Oh,  then  I'll  go 
down  and  meet  him.  I  can  tell  him  all  about 
it  on  the  way  up. 

Vicky. 

Well,  you'd  better  hurry  up  or  you'll  be  late 
for  dinner.  Mother  and  Mrs.  Gorringe  have  gone 
up  to  dress  already. 

[Vicky  goes  out. 
Isabel. 

David.  [David  looks  towards  her.]  I  have 
to  go  and  meet  the  seven  twenty-five.  Will  you 
drive  me  to  the  station? 

David. 

{Smiles.]     Yes. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  51 

Isabel. 

Wait  here  while  I  put  my  things  on. 

[Isabel  goes  out.  It  is  now  dusk.  David 
takes  the  diamond  necklace  from  an 
inner  pocket  and  looks  at  it,  his  face 
expressing  mental  agony.  He  closes  his 
hand  over  it. 

David. 

[Praying  earnestly.'}  Lord,  I  repent.  Help 
me  to  restore  it.  Help  me,  dear  Lord.  Don^t 
bring  disgrace  upon  me  now. 

Isabel. 

[Calls  without.}  David !  [Re  starts  violently, 
taking  his  handkerchief  from  his  pocket,  and 
wrapping  it  round  the  necklace.}  David!  [He 
looks  about  distracted,  rising  with  his  hand  rest- 
ing on  the  pedestal  for  support  as  Isabel  enters. 
She  wears  her  hat  and  jacket  and  turns  on  the 
electric  light  as  she  enters.}  I'm  ready.  [He 
hesitates,  his  hand  still  resting  on  the  pedestal, 
which  is  hidden  from  her  by  his  body.}  Aren't 
you  coming?  [He  still  hesitates.  She  betrays  a 
little  disappointment  as  she  says}  I  thought 
you'd  like  to  come  with  me. 

David. 

[He  drops  the  handkerchief  and  the  necTclace 
m  the  bowl,  then  goes  to  her.}     Yes. 


52  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Isabel. 

[Affectionately,']     Let  it  be  like  the  old  times, 
David.     Shall  it? 

David. 

[With  a  breaking  voice.']     Yes,  dear.     It  shall 
be,  —  like  the  old  times. 

[They  go  out  together. 


CURTAIN. 


THE    SECOND    ACT 

SCENE :  —  The  same  as  Act  I.  It  is  the  even- 
ing of  the  same  day. 

Enter  Isabel,  David  Cairn^  and  Jernigan, 
a  detective  in  plain  clothes.  He  is  a  tall, 
grave  man,  approaching  middle-age.  His 
manner  is  always  formal  and  professional. 
He  is  never  amused  by  anything  the  other 
characters  do  or  say.  Isabel  and  David  are 
dressed  as  at  end  of  Act  I.  All  the  charac- 
ters who  enter  later  wear  dinner  dress. 

Isabel. 

[Entering.']  I  suppose  they  are  at  dinner. 
[To  Jernigan".]  Colonel  Jardine  will  see  you 
here  when  he  has  finished.  Have  you  dined 
yourself  ? 

Jernigan. 

Yes,  thank  you. 

Isabel. 

You  might  like  to  go  to  your  room  now.     [She 

rings    the   hell   beside   the   fireplace,    then   comes 

to   Jernigan",   speaMng  so   that   David,   who   is 

''  standing  at  a  little  distance,  does  not  hear  her.] 

53 


54  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Of  course,  none  of  the  servants  know  that  you  are 
a  detective.     I  thought  it  better  not  to  tell  them. 

Jernigan. 

Certainly. 

[Charles,  the  footman,  enters. 

Isabel. 

Show  Mr.  Jernigan  his  room,  and  see  that  he 
has  everything  he  wants. 

Charles. 

Yes,  Miss.     [Holds  the  door  open  for  Jerni- 
gan.] 

[Jernigan  goes  out. 

Isabel. 
Charles.     Are  they  still  at  dinner? 

Charles. 
TheyVe  almost  done,  Miss. 

Isabel. 

Mr.  Cairn  and  I  will  dine  when  they  have  fin- 
ished. 

Charles. 

Yes,   Miss. 

[Charles  goes  out  and  closes  the   door 
after  him. 


MRS.   GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  55 

David. 

[Glances  at  the  howl  and  says  to  himself.'] 
Now.  If  I  could  get  it  back  while  they  are  all 
at  dinner! 

Isabel. 

What  are  yon  saying,  David? 

David. 
[Turns  to  her.~\     Nothing. 

Isabel. 

[Comes  to  him.]  Don't  be  too  down-hearted, 
dear.  I  feel  sure  you  are  going  to  conquer,  and 
I'm  going  to  help  you.  And  it  isn't  as  if  you'd 
done  something  really  bad.  Now,  I'd  better  go 
and  dress  f o^r  dinner  —  so  had  you. 

David. 

Yes,  I'll  go  directly.  I  shan't  take  as  long  as 
you. 

[Mrs.  Jardine  enters. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

What's  made  you  so  late,  Isabel?  WeVe  fin- 
ished dinner. 

Isabel. 

The  train  was  late. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
I  wonder  they  don't  make  the  railway  guides 


56  MRS.   GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

an  hour  later,  then  one  would  know  what^  time 

to  expect  the  trains.     Did  you  bring  the  detective  ? 

[David   is  startled  at   the   mention   of  a 

detective,  hut  conceals  his  dismay  from 

the  others, 

Isabel. 

[To  David.]     I  didn't  tell  you  Mr.  Jernigan 
was  a  detective. 

David. 
What  do  you  want  a  detective  for? 

Isabel. 

Mrs.   Gorringe  has  missed  her  diamond  neck- 
lace, and  we  think  it  may  have  been  stolen. 

David. 
Oh,  I  hope  she'll  find  it. 

[Colonel  Jardine  enters. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Oh,  my  dear  Isabel,  we've  finished  dinner,  and 
you've  not  changed. 


Isabel. 
I  shan't  be  long. 


[Isabel  goes  out 


Colonel  Jardine. 
Are  you  going  to  sit  here,  Emily? 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  57 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Who  has  taken  a  magazine  from  the  table  and 
seated  herself  in  an  armchair,]  You  can't  expect 
me  to  sit  in  the  drawing-room  and  watch  Mrs. 
Gorringe  making  sheep's  eyes  at  Captain  Mow- 
bray. I  can't  say  I  enjoyed  my  dinner.  The  fish 
was  burnt,  and  I  never  did  care  for  meringues. 
And  the  way  that  woman  cackled  about  her 
diamond  necklace  was  enough  to —  Well,  I'm 
sick  of  the  whole  thing  before  we've  even  begun 
to  look  for  it.  [Peruses  her  magazine.  David 
goes  out.  Colonel  Jardine  paces  moodily  up 
and  down  with  his  hands  in  his  pockets.  Mrs. 
Jardine  casts  impatient  glances  at  him.  He 
does  not  notice  her.  She  endures  a  few  moments 
before  she  speaks.]  I  have  quite  enough  to  bear, 
without  seeing  you  sulk. 

Colonel  Jardine. 
I'm  not  sulking. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

You  are.  You  haven't  said  a  word  since  the 
roast  left  the  table.  You  know  how  you  annoy 
me  when  you  sulk.  [She  perukes  her  magazine 
a  moment,  then  glances  at  him  impatiently  as 
before.]  I  wish  you'd  stop  waddling  about  like 
that.  Can't  you  see  I'm  on  the  verge  of  hysteria  ? 
[Jernigan"  enters.  He  pauses  on  the  threshold, 
Mrs.  Jardine  stares  at  him.]     Who's  this? 


58  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

[Colonel  Jardine  goes  to  meet  Jernigan. 
His  manner  is  more  restrained  before 
Jernigan  than  when  he  is  alone  with 
his  family.  Mrs.  Jardine,  too  wrought 
up  to  heed  the  conventions,  puts  no  con- 
straint upon  herself. 

Jernigan. 
The  servant  said  you  would  like  to  see  me. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Ah,  yes.  How  d'you  do?  [Going  to  Mrs. 
Jardine.]  Emily,  this  is  Mr.  Jernigan,  the 
detective. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Aside  to  her  husband.]  Ought  I  to  shake 
hands  ? 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Aside  to  her.]  No.  [Turns  to  Jernigan.] 
My  wife,  Mr.  Jernigan.  [Mrs.  Jardine  and 
Jernigan  bow  stiffly  to  each  other.]  Now,  I 
suppose  you  want  to  ask  me  a  lot  of  questions. 
[Sits  on  sofa,  signing  to  Jernigan  to  be  seated.] 
Well  —  fire  away. 

Jernigan. 

[Remains  standing.]  Do  you  suspect  any  par- 
ticular person  of  having  taken  this  necklace  ? 

Colonel  Jardine. 
No. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  59 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
We  suppose  if  s  one  of  the  servants. 

Colonel  Jardine. 
My  dear  —  we  don't  know. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
Who  else  would  steal  it? 

Colonel  Jardine. 

My  dear  — 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[To  her  husband.'}  Allow  me  to  speak,  please. 
[To  Jernigan.]  I  strongly  suspect  one  of  the 
housemaids,  called  Pipkin. 

Jernigan. 
May  I  ask  why  you  suspect  Pipkin? 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

There's  something  I  don't  like  about  her  eyes. 
I  didn't  like  them  from  the  first,  and  I'm  never 
mistaken  in  eyes.  Then,  she's  always  looking 
out  of  the  windows,  and— ^ oh,  several  things. 

Jernigan". 

I  see.  [Taking  out  a  note-hook.']  I  suppose 
you  keep  a  large  staff  of  servants? 


60  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Smiling  conceitedly.']  Oh,  very  large.  I  be- 
lieve I  have  more  servants  than  anyone  in  this 
neighbourhood. 

Jernigan. 

Were  they  all  in  the  house  when  the  robbery 
was  discovered? 

Colonel  Jardine. 
No.     Some  of  them  were  watching  the  polo. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

I'll  ring  and  find  out  which  of  them  were  in. 
[Rings  the  hell  hy  the  fireplace.] 

Jernigan. 

[To  Colonel  Jardine.]  You  have  several 
guests  staying  here,  I  think  ? 

Colonel  Jardine. 
Three. 

Jernigan. 

All  of  them  people  you  know  well,  and  trust? 

Colonel  Jardine. 
Oh,  certainly. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
I  wouldn't  be  too  sure. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  61 

Colonel  Jardine. 
[Remonstrating.']     My  dear. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

You'll  never  get  at  it  if  you  are  so  afraid  to 
suspect  anyone.  I  am  trying  to  help  Mr.  Jerni- 
gan  with  a  few  suggestions.  [Sits  down  again 
in  Tier  armchair.'] 

[Charles  enters. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Oh,  Charles,  I  want  you  to  tell  me  which  of 
the  servants  went  to  watch  the  polo  this  after- 
noon? 

Charles. 

All  of  us,  sir. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Do  you  mean  to  say  I  was  left  asleep  in  an 
empty  house? 

Charles. 

Oh,  no,  ma'am,  I  was  forgetting.  One  of  the 
maids  stayed  in. 

Colonel  Jardine. 
Which  one? 

Charles. 
Pipkin. 


62  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Springing  up  excitedly.]  There!  I  said  all 
along  it  was  Pipkin.  [To  Jernigan.]  YouM 
better  go  straight  to  the  kitchen  and  arrest  her. 
Have  you  got  the  handcuffs? 

Jernigan. 

[Quietly  and  politely.^  One  moment,  please. 
[To  Charles.]  You  are  quite  sure  that  no  one 
else  was  in  the  house  this  afternoon^  besides  the 
housemaid  Pipkin  ? 

Charles. 
Only  the  mistress,  sir. 

Jernigan. 
[To  Mrs.  Jardine.]     Oh,  were  yow  at  home? 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Reluctantly.']  Yes.  [She  glances  uneasily  at 
the  other  three.]  I  hope  you  don't  suggest  that 
I  stole  it. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Going  towards  her,  to  restrain  her.]  My 
dear  Emily. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

This  is  a  pretty  pass  you've  brought  things 
to,  bringing  your  detectives  into  the  house,  and 
turning  the  library  into  a  police  court.     I  sup- 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  63 

pose   you   know    I^m   as   good   as   committed   to 
appear  at  the  next  Petty  Sessions. 

Jernigan. 
When  was  the  necklace  last  seen? 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
[Crossly.^     I  don't  know. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[To  Charles.]  Ask  Mrs.  Gorringe  to  come 
here.  [Charles  goes  out.  Colonel  Jardine 
turns  to  Jernigan.]  Shell  be  able  to  tell  us 
that. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[To  Jernigan.]  You  see,  Mr.  Jernigan,  if 
Mrs.  Gorringe  had  locked  up  her  jewels  properly, 
as  she  ought  to  have  done,  all  this  would  never 
have  happened,  and  we  might  now  be  playing 
bridge  as  usual. 

Jernigan. 
Yes. 

[Mrs.  Gorringe  enters,  followed  by 
Vicky,  who  sits  in  the  window,  Mrs. 
Gorringe  comes  forward,  smiling,  and 
evidently  pleased  with  the  importance  of 
her  situation. 

Colonel  Jardine. 
Mrs.  Gorringe,  this  is  Mr.  Jernigan,  the  de- 


64  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

tective.  [Mrs.  Gorringe  hows  to  Jernigan.] 
Now,  he's  going  to  put  some  questions  to  you,  and 
you  must  be  very  exact  in  your  replies.  Think 
you're  in  court,  you  know. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

I  understand. 

[Takes  up  a  conspiciwits  position:  very 
self-conscioiLS  from  being  the  centre  of 
interest. 

Jernigan. 
I  didn't  quite  catch  the  name. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
[Pronouncing  very  distinctly,"]     Gorringe. 

Jernigan. 
Mrs,  Gorringe. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Yes,  I  married  Mr.  Gorringe  in  the  year 
ninety-five.  Before  that  I  was  a  Miss  Eose 
Pilkington  of  Ipswich.  Is  it  necessary  to  give 
the  age? 

Jernigan, 

Oh,  no,  thank  you. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Thank  you.    I  have  had  three  children  — 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  65 

Jernigan. 

[Interrupting  her.]     Yes,  but  it's  not  neces- 
sary to  give  these  details  now. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Oh,  I  see. 

Jernigan. 
You've  lost  a  diamond  necklace? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Yes.     It  had  a  pearl  clasp. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
[Impatiently.']     Oh ! 

Jernigan. 
When  did  you  last  see  it? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Last  night,  when  I  went  to  bed. 

Jernigan. 
Did  you  wear  it  last  evening? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
No,  I  wore  turquoise. 

Jernigan. 

But  you  remember  seeing  the  necklace  when 
you  went  to  bed? 


66  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Mrs.  Goeringe. 
Yes,  I  had  it  on. 

Jernigan. 
When  you  went  to  bed? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

No,  before. 

Jernigan. 

You  had  it  on  after  you  went  to  your  room, 
and  before  you  went  to  bed? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Yes. 

Jernigan. 

Was  anyone  else  in  your  room? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Oh,  no.     I  was  quite  alone.     Mr.  Gorringe  is 
at  home  in  Croydon. 

Jernigan. 

Were  you  wearing  any  other  jewelry  at  the 
time? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Reluctantly.']     Yes. 

Jernigan. 

I    should    like    to    know    exactly    what    other 
jewelry  you  had  on  then. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  67 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Some  bracelets  and  rings  and  pins,  three  neck- 
laces, and  some  hair  ornaments. 

Jernigan. 

Had  you  these  ornaments  on  separately  or  at 
one  time? 

[Mrs.  Gorringe  hesitates,  glances  uneas- 
ily at  Mrs.  Jardine,  who  is  staring  at 
her  mercilessly. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
I  prefer  not  to  answer  that  question. 

Jernigan. 

I  am  trying  to  find  out  if  it  is  not  possible 
that  someone  saw  you  last  night  with  your  neck- 
lace on. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Frightened.']  Oh,  no,  I^m  sure  no  one  saw 
me. 

Jernigan. 

As  you  have  not  lost  any  of  the  other  orna- 
ments, I  want  to  know  if  you  had  them  on  sep- 
arately or  at  one  time. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Reluctantly,  after  loohing  aslcance  at  Mrs. 
Jardine.]     I  had  them  all  on  together. 


I 


68  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

[Mrs.  Jardine  looks  at  her  husband. 
VigKY  puts  her  hand  over  her  face. 
Jeenigan  is  unmoved.    Nobody  laughs. 

Jernigan. 

Had  you  any  particular  reason  for  wearing 
them  then? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Yes. 

Jernigan. 
What? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

I  wanted  to  see  how  I  should  look  as  an  Orien- 
tal. 

Jernigan. 

Ah,  I  understand.  Then  you  don't  remember 
this  diamond  necklace  more  particularly  than  the 
other  jewelry? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Yes,  I  do.  Because  when  I  took  it  off  I  exam- 
ined it  to  see  if  the  drops  were  quite  firm.  I 
ought  to  tell  you  first  that  it  has  ^Ye  drops  in 
front  which  come  off  and  make  into  a  tiara  — 

Jernigan. 

[Trying  to  restrain  her."]  Yes,  yes.  And  now 
how  did  you  come  to  discover  the  diamonds  were 
missing  ? 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  69 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Well,  I  went  up  to  my  room  when  I  came  in 
from  the  polo  match,  and  suppose  the  dressing- 
table  to  be  there —  [points  to  Vicky]  where 
Miss  Jardine  is.  And  the  door  where  this  one 
is.  [Points  to  the  door.']  I  came,  in  at  the  door 
something  like  this —  [Goes  to  the  door,  opens 
it,  goes  just  outside  and  comes  in  again.]  I 
closed  the  door.  [Closes  the  door,  and  goes  to- 
wards Vicky  as  she  says.]  Then  I  crossed  over 
to  the  dressing-table  in. quite  an  ordinary  manner, 
just  as  I  am  doing  now.  [When  she  has  nearly 
arrived  at  Vicky  she  stops  suddenly.]  Oh,  no. 
I've  made  a  mistake.  The  dressing-table,  of 
course,  would  be  there.  [Points  towards  Mrs. 
Jardine.]  I  was  thinking  of  the  one  at  home. 
[8he  pauses  a  moment  undecided,  then  says:] 
I  must  come  in  again.  [She  then  runs  to  the 
door,  opens  it,  goes  just  outside,  closes  it,  opens 
it  again  and  puts  her  head  just  inside  to  say,] 
Now  you  are  to  suppose  I  didn't  come  in  before. 
[Takes  her  head  hack,  and  closes  the  door.] 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Scarcely  ahle  to  restrain  her  impatience.]  I 
shall  scream  in  a  minute. 

[Vicky  begins  to  shake  with  laughter, 
putting  her  handkerchief  over  her 
mouth.  The  others  watch  Mrs.  Gor- 
RiNGE  gravely.  Mrs.  Gorkinge  enters 
and  closes  the  door. 


70  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

I  crossed  over  to  the  dressing-table  —  which,  of 
course,  is  here  now.  [Points  to  a  spot  near  Mrs. 
Jardine^  walks  towards  it,  and  stands  still.']  I 
opened  my  jewel-case.  I  don't  know  what  made 
me  do  that  then.  I  suppose  I  must  have  had  a 
presentiment.  Oh,  no.  It  was  to  get  these  rings. 
[Bends  up  her  hand  to  shew  her  rings.~\  I 
thought  it  looked  different  somehow,  and  what 
was  it  I  said  to  myself?  [Frowns  as  she  thinks 
a  moment.]  Oh,  yes.  I  remember  saying  to 
myself,  ''  Well,  that's  funny !  "  Then  all  at  once 
it  came  across  me  like  a  flash  of  lightning  and 
I  clasped  my  hands  and  exclaimed:  [Clasps  her 
hands  dramatically.]  "  Great  heavens,  my  dia- 
mond necklace  has  gone !  "  [Drops  her  dramatic 
pose  and  tone.]     Just  like  that. 

Jernigan. 
[Gravely.]     I  see. 

[Vicky,  screaming  ivith  laughter,  and 
*•  holding  her  handkerchief  over  her  mouth 
in  a  vain  attempt  to  smother  the  sound, 
rushes  out.  Shrieks  of  hysterical  laugh- 
ter are  heard  from  without.  Mrs.  Gor- 
RiiSTGE  is  very  much  hurt  and  annoyed. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Vicky,  hush,  hush.  [Shuts  the  door  after 
Vicky,  then  goes  to  Mrs.  Jardine,  05  he  says.] 
My  dear,  that  child  is  becoming  intolerable. 


MBS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE         .    71 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Almost  crying  with  indignation,  drawing 
Jernigan  towards  the  sofa.]  Mr.  Jernigan,  I 
want  to  speak  to  you  privately  a  moment.  [They 
sit  down.]  Now,  —  I  want  the  house  thoroughly 
searched  for  my  necklace. 

Jernigan. 
Certainly. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

I  want  everything  done.  [Looks  towards  Col- 
onel and  Mrs.  Jardine  to  see  if  they  are  listen- 
ing, then  moves  nearer  to  Jernigan.]  I  never 
saw  such  indifference  as  they  all  show  about  my 
loss.  This  afternoon  I  could  scarcely  get  them 
to  send  for  you.  They  just  dawdled  over  their 
tea  —  and  Mrs.  Jardine  didn't  want  me  to  say 
anything  at  all  about  it.  The  way  she  went  on 
you'd  think  my  diamonds  were  only  paste. 

Jernigan". 

I  will  do  everything  in  my  power  to  recover 
your  jewels. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Thank  you.  It's  a  most  valuable  necklace.  A 
lapidary  once  told  me  that  the  middle  pendant 
—  I  think  I  told  you  there  were  five  drops  in 
front  —  is  as  large  as  a  roc's 


72  .  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Jernigan. 
A  roc's  egg? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Was  it  a  roc  or  a  pigeon?  I  forget,  but  it 
was  some  sort  of  egg. 

Jernigak. 
Will  you  take  me  to  your  room? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Misunderstanding  him,  rises  indignantly.'] 
Certainly  not.     I  couldn't  think  of  such  a  thing. 

Jernigan. 

If  you  want  me  to  trace  your  necklace,  I  must 
visit  your  room  first. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Seeing  her  mistake,  smiles  confusedly.]  Oh, 
I  see.  -Excuse  me.  [Addresses  Colonel  and 
Mrs.  Jardine.]  Mr.  Jernigan  and  I  are  going 
upstairs  to  my  room  for  a  few  minutes.  [They 
stare  hlanhly  at  her.  She  explains  hastily.] 
Anyone  can  come  with  us.  Come,  Mr.  Jernigan. 
This  way,  Mr.  Jernigan. 

[Mrs.  Gorringe  goes  out,  followed  hy 
Jernigan.  As  soon  as  the  door  is  closed 
after  them,  Mrs.  Jardine  rises  and 
walks  about,  giving  vent  to  her  sup- 
pressed  irritation. 


MRS.   GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  73 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

How  I'm  to  bear  the  rest  of  Mrs.  Gorringe's 
visit  I  don't  see.  She's  only  been  here  three  days, 
and  she  came  for  a  week,  and  she's  just  one  of 
those  women  who  if  she  came  for  a  week  would 
stay  for  a  week,  —  whatever  happened.  I  sup- 
pose she'll  never  see  what  inconvenience  she's  put 
us  all  to  by  having  her  necklace  stolen.  Every- 
one in  the  house  suspected,  —  especially  me,  it 
seems. 

•    Colonel  Jardine. 
That's  nonsense,  Emily. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

I  never  liked  Mrs.  Gorringe.  I  don't  see  how 
I  ever  came  to  invite  her  here —  [Colonel 
Jardine  mahes  a  movement  of  irritation.']  You 
needn't  do  that. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Do  what? 

[She  imitates  the  movement  of  irritation 
he  has  just  made. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Why,  that !  I  suppose  there'll  be  no  bridge  this 
evening. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Why  not? 


74  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Well,  who^s  to  play?  You  know  we  can't  make 
a  four  without  Mrs.  Gorringe,  —  not  that  she's 
such  a  good  player. 

Colonel  Jardine. 
We  can  get  someone  else. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

And  how  do  you  expect  me  to  keep  my  mind 
on  the  game  with  the  house  in  such  a  state  of 
uproar?  I  never  can  settle  properly  for  the 
night  if  I  don't  have  a  game  of  cards.  [Takes 
her  patience-hoard  and  cards  from  a  table  near 
the  window  and  brings  them  to  the  writing-table.] 
I  suppose  I  must  content  myself  with  patience. 
[Sits  at  the  writing-table,  opens  her  patience- 
hoard,  and  lays  out  her  cards.     Mowbray  enters.] 

Mowbray. 

I  didn't  know  Mrs.  Gorringe  was  expecting  her 
husband. 

Colonel  Jardine. 
She  isn't  that  I  know  of. 

Mowbray. 

Oh,  I  thought  that  must  be  Mr.  Gorringe  who 
went  into  her  room  with  her. 


MRS.   GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  75 

Mrs.  Jaedine. 

I  suppose  she  won^t  be  satisfied  till  she  makes 
a  scandal  in  the  house. 

[Vicky  enters,  mimicking  Mrs.  Gorringe 
as  she  moves  about. 

Vicky. 

I  came  in  at  the  door  something  like  this.  I 
closed  the  door.  I  crossed  over  to  my  dressing- 
table  in  quite  an  ordinary  way,  just  like  this,  to 
get  some  rings.  Then  I  said  to  myself,  ^^  Great 
heavens,  my  diamond  necklace  has  gone !  "  Just 
like  that. 

[The  others  watch  her,  amused,  then  Mrs. 
Jardine  laughs  heartily.  She  becomes 
quite  amiable  in  seeing  Mrs.  Gorringe 
derided. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
Excellent,  excellent !    Mrs.  Gorringe  to  the  life ! 

Mowbray. 

What's  that? 

Vicky. 

[Becoming  suddenly  serious. 1  Oh,  you  don't 
know. 

Mrs.  Jardin"e. 

You  may  as  well.  [Addressing  Mowbray.] 
Mrs.  Gorringe  has  lost  a  diamond  necklace. 


76  MRS.   GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Mowbray. 

Not  the  one  with  the  pearl  clasp  and  five  drops 
in  front? 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Laughing.}  Yes —  [Serioiisly.]  Really, 
some  women  are  peculiar. 

Mowbray. 

Now  I  see  why  she  talked  about  it  all  through 
dinner  and  asked  me  to  repeat  the  story  I  told 
you  about  the  fellow  who  stole  a  bracelet. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
And  that  was  a  detective. 

Mowbray. 

Oh,  not  the  father  of  her  three  children? 
[Mrs.    Gorringe   enters.     Mrs.   Jardine 
betrays  her  irritation  as  soon  as  Mrs. 
Gorringe  speaks  and  begins  packing  up 
her  patience-hoard. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[To  Colonel  Jardine.]  He^s  going  to  ques- 
tion the  servants  now.  And  he  wants  to  know 
if  you'll  go. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Yes,  yes,  certainly. 

[Colonel  Jardine  hustles  out. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  77 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Looking  archly  at  Captain  Mowbray.]  Have 
you  been  wondering  where  I'd  run  away  to  for 
so  long? 

Mowbray. 

I  am  always  wondering  about  you. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Vicky!  [Vicky  comes  to  her,  Mrs.  Jardine 
gives  her  her  patience-hoard,  and  cards.}  Carry 
that  into  the  drawing-room  for  me.  I  feel  as 
if  I  couldn't  sit  in  the  same  room  with  that 
woman. 

[Mrs.  Jardine  goes  out.     Vicky  follows 
her,   carrying    the   patience-hoard. 

Mowbray. 
I'm  sure  I  hope  you'll  soon  find  your  necklace. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Sighing.^  Thank  you,  I  hope  so.  [Archly.l 
And  until  I  do  I  shall  expect  my  friends  to  do 
all  they  can  to  console  me.  [Sits  on  the  sofa.} 
Now,  amuse  me. 

Mowbray. 

Shall  I  sing  or  recite? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

What  a  tease  you  are.  We  were  having  a  de- 
lightful talk  about  something  at  tea  this  after- 


78  MRS,    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

noon,  when  the  others  came  in  and  interrupted 
us.  [Pretending  to  forget.']  What  were  we 
talking  about? 

Mowbray. 

Polo? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Still  as  if  trying  to  remember,']  I  don't  think 
it  was  polo. 

Mowbray. 

Heroes  ? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Annoyed  at  his  ohtuseness.]  Oh,  no  — 
something  interesting. 

Mowbray. 

Love? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Archly.]  For  shame.  [Sits  with  her  bach 
to  him,  playfully  severe.]  I  won't  speak  to  you 
if  you're  going  to  be  naughty. 

Mowbray. 
I  remember.     You  said  you  noticed  — 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Turning  to  him,  playfully  indignant.]  I'm 
sure  I  never  said  anything  so  forward. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  79 

Mowbray. 

That  I  was  in  love  with  some  one  I  met  in 
this  house. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Coyly  dropping  her  eyes.]  You're  incorrigi- 
ble. 

Mowbray. 
It's  all  off  now.     I've  withdrawn. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Showing  the  disappointment  she  feels  in  this 
sudden  end  to  her  flirtation.~\  Oh !  [As  he  wan- 
ders away  —  she  looks  after  him,  then  says 
archly,']  I  think  I  shall  have  to  call  you  Captain 
Faint  Heart. 

Mowbray. 

[Turning  to  her.]  But  if  I  can't  honourably 
make  love  to  the  lady. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
[Cooingly.l     Isn't  all  fair  in  love? 

Mowbray. 

It's  love  itself  that's  so  unfair.  It's  a  field 
in  which  merit  doesn't  count.  Incompetence  as 
often  wins.  The  ckampions  must  have  bright 
eyes,  smooth  cheeks,  and  charming  ways.  That's 
air  they  need.  An  old  stager  is  too  heavily  handi- 
capped when  he  has  to  run  against  a  youngster. 


80  MRS.    GORRINGE'S    NECKLACE 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Enjoying  herself  immensely  again,']  So 
there's  a  youngster  in  love  with  your  fair  lady 
too!     This  is  most  interesting.      [Laughs.'] 

Mowbray. 
[Grimly.]     Quite  laughable,  isn't  it? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Poor  Captain  Faint  Heart.  But  I  dare  say 
the  lady  would  listen  to  you  before  the  young- 
ster. 

Mowbray. 

[8ays  earnestly.]     Oh,  do  you  think  so? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

I  didn't  say  she'd  listen  to  either.  [Mowbray 
moves  away.  Mrs.  Gorringe  looks  after  him  in 
mild  surprise.]  I  declare,  I  believe  you're  quite 
in  earnest. 

Mowbray. 

[LooJcing  at  her.]  In  earnest?  Did  you  sup- 
pose I  was  flirting? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Smiling  pensively.]  I  thought  there  might 
be  just  a  soupgon  of  reality  in  it. 


MRS.   GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  81 

Mowbray. 

[Sighing  half -humorously.'}  Just  a  soupgon  — 
eh? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Coming  towards  him.}  How  could  I  believe 
you  meant  more?  [With  a  touch  of  reproach  in 
her  tone.}  Did  you  think  I  should  have  let  you 
go  on  if  rd  known  your  heart  was  involved? 

Mowbray. 
You  knew  all  along  it  was  hopeless? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Sentimentally.']  Yes.  It  is  hopeless.  Fm 
not  angry  with  you. 

Mowbray. 
[Puzzled.]     Angry  ? 

Mrs.  GoRRiisTGE. 

Perhaps  I'm  even  a  little  proud  of  my  con- 
quest. 

Mowbray. 
Your  conquest? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

But  I  hope  I  shall  never  forget  my  duty  to  Mr. 

Gorringe  and  the  children. 

[The  shock  of  surprise  is  so  great  to  Mow- 


82  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

BRAY  that  he  laughs.  Mrs.  Gorringe 
looks  extremely  hurt,  and  seeing  she  has 
made  a  mistake  hurries  towards  the 
door, 

Mowbray. 

[Trying  not  to  laugh.']  I  beg  your  pardon, 
Mrs.  Gorringe  —  but  there  must  have  been  a  mis- 
take. 

[Mrs.  Gorringe  does  not  quite  go  out  of 
the  door,  hut  stands  with  her  hand  on 
the  handle,  considering  a  moment.  She 
then  hreahs  into  forced  laughter  and 
comes  towards  Mowbray. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Pretending  to  he  in  fits  of  laughter,  which 
are  ohviously  forced.]  So  you  thought  —  that  I 
thought  —  you  meant  me.  What  a  trick  I  played 
on  you!  It  was  too  bad  of  me.  But,  oh,  what 
fun  it  was!  I  took  you  in  so  beautifully.  You 
ought  to  have  seen  your  face.  It  was  fun  — 
such  fun  —  oh,  what  fun !  [Finding  her  vocab- 
ulary exhausted,  and  as  Mowbray  doesn't  help 
her,  hut  only  watches  her,  she  goes  towards  the 
door,  still  laughing.  As  she  does  so  Mowbray 
turns  away.  She  stops  laughing  suddenly  when 
she  reaches  the  door,  smothers  an  angry  exclama- 
tion and  goes  out  in  a  huff. 

Mowbray. 
[Chuckling  to  himself.]     Mr.  Gorringe  and  the 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  83 

children.     What   a    morass    that   woman's    mind 
must  be. 

[David    enters,    dressed    in    his    evening 
clothes. 

David. 

Where  are  the  others? 

Mowbray. 

Hunting  for  Mrs.  Gorringe's  necklace  with  five 
pearl  clasps  and  a  drop  in  front.  It's  a  great 
secret.     Everybody's  talking  about  it. 

David. 

Oh,  I  didn't  hear  them,  but  I've  been  dining 
alone  with  Isabel. 

Mowbray. 

[LooJcing  earnestly  at  David.]  David,  be  very 
good  to  that  girl. 

David. 

I  did  offer  to  let  her  off.  I  told  her  if  she 
thought  she  could  be  happier  with  you  — 

Mowbray. 
What  did  she  say? 

David. 
She    said    you'd    never   been    any   more   than 


84  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

friends.     I  don't  think  she  ever  thought  of  you 
any  other  way. 

Mowbray. 

[Slowly,  with  a  sigh.'\  No,  I  don't  think  she 
ever  did.  She  doesn't  think  every  man  is  in  love 
with  her  —  like  some  people.  She  can  be  a 
friend.     It's  a  wonderful  thing  in  a  woman. 

David. 

[Trouhled.li  I  know  it's  not  right  that  a 
bungler  like  me  should  stand  between  you  and 
Isabel. 

Mowbray. 

[Generously,']  You  aren't  to  blame.  Nobody 
is.  It's  just  one  of  those  damned  things  that 
can't  be  helped.  And  you  must  try  not  to  be 
a  bungler.  And  I  must  try  what  my  philosophy 
is  worth. 

David. 

You  always  had  lots  of  philosophy,  hadn't  you  ? 

Mowbray. 

Oh,  lots  —  to  give  awa}^  It's  so  easy  to  be 
a  philosopher  in  one's  unimpassioned  moments. 
[With  conviction. 1  But  I  believe  in  my  philoso- 
phy all  the  same,  and  when  I've  had  time  to  re- 
member that  I'm  only  one  man  in  a  big  world, 
with  no  special  license  to  have  everything  my 
own  way,  I  shall  find  there  are  still  a  few  things 
worth  living  for.     But  I  must  be  alone. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  85 

David. 

Shall  I  go? 

Mowbray. 

No,  I  didn't  mean  that.  But  I  can't  stay  in 
this  house  now.  It's  an  impossible  situation  — 
so  I  think  I  shall  just  pack  my  things  and  go  up 
to  London  to-night. 

David. 
How  are  you  going  to  explain  it? 

Mowbray. 

[Meditating.]  Yes  —  that's  awkward.  I  don't 
want  to  explain  it.  I'll  leave  a  note  and  say  I 
was  called  away,  and  you  can  back  me  up  in  the 
morning. 

David. 

I'm  awfully  sorry. 

Mowbray. 

That's  all  right.  And  we're  just  as  good  pals 
as  ever,  aren't  we,  old  boy? 

[Mowbray  goes  out.  David  stands  still 
a  few  moments,  expressing  trouble  and 
anxiety  in  his  face.  He  glances  at  the 
howl. 

David. 

No  one  has  guessed  yet.  Shall  I  never  get  a 
chance  of  taking  it  back? 


86  MRS.   GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Isabel. 

[Heard  outside.']  I  suppose  we  can't  do  any- 
thing more  to-night. 

[Enter  Mrs.  Jardine,  Mrs.  Gorringe 
and  Isabel,  now  wearing  an  evening 
dress. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

I  can't  say  I  think  much  of  your  detective, 
Mrs.  Gorringe,  spending  a  whole  evening  ransack- 
ing the  house  and  then  finding  nothing. 

Isabel. 
It  may  not  be  in  the  house. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Mournfully.]  No.  Most  likely  at  this  very 
moment  they're  boiling  it  down  in  some  thieves' 
kitchen.     Oh,  dear!     [Nearly  cries.] 

[Isabel  comforts  her. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Turns  to  Isabel.]  I  suppose  you've  heard 
the  latest? 

Isabel. 

No  —  what  ? 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

They  accuse  me. 

Isabel. 

[Laughing  incredulously.]     Oh,  mother! 


MRS,    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  87 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

You  weren^t  here  when  he  cornered  me  in  his 
nasty  police  court  way  and  forced  me  to  admit 
I  was  alone  in  the  house  with  Pipkin. 

Isabel. 
What  did  he  say? 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

It  wasn^t  what  he  said.  It  was  the  look  he 
gave  me.     You  know  I^m  never  mistaken  in  eyes. 

Isabel. 

We  are  all  equally  under  suspicion;  everyone 
who  was  in  the  house  since  Mrs.  Gorringe  saw 
her   diamonds. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[With  scarcely  veiled  contem'pt.']  Yes  —  since 
you  dressed  up  in  all  your  jewels,  Mrs.  Gorringe 
—  to  see  how  you  would  look  as  an  Oriental. 
[Pauses  before  she  adds,]  That  only  lets  David 
off.  [David  starts  slightly,  unnoticed  by  the 
others.]  It's  a  lucky  thing  for  you,  David,  that 
you  had  to  go  away  yesterday.  You  are  the  only 
person  in  the  house  who  couldn't  have  stolen 
Mrs.  Gorringe's  necklace.  [An  expression  of  re- 
lief passes  over  David's  face  for  a  moment,  then 
he  looks  gloomy  again.     Yicky  enters.] 


88  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Vicky. 

IWe  come  to  say  good-night.  Good-night,  Mrs. 
Gorringe.     [Kisses  her,'] 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
[Sadly.l     Good-night,  dear. 

Vicky. 
[Kissing  her  mother.']     Good-night,  mother. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

I  suppose  it's  nearly  time  for  us  all  to  retire; 
not  that  we  shall  sleep,  but  it's  been  such  a 
dreadful  day  we  may  as  well  finish  it  as  soon 
as  possible. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

I  feel  so  timid  about  going  to  bed  in  that 
room. 

Isabel. 

David  has  the  room  next  yours,  and  you  can 
have  a  bell  by  your  bed  if  you  like. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

But  suppose  the  thief  should  enter  in  the  dead 
of  night  and  should  seize  my  hand  before  I  could 
grasp  the  bell,  thinking  to  find  rings  upon  it, 
or  my  throat  before  I  could  scream,  thinking  to 
find  a  necklace  there. 


MRS.   GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  89 

Isabel. 

Would  you  like  to  share  my  room? 

[David  listens  intently  for  the  answer. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Eagerly.']  Oh,  thank  you,  yes.  I'll  go  and 
take  my  things  there.  I  think  we'd  better  put 
what's  left  of  my  jewelry  under  our  pillows. 

Isabel. 
Won't  that  be  rather  uncomfortable? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

I'll  give  you  the  flat  cases  and  take  the  lumpy 
ones  myself.  Good-night,  Mr.  David.  [Goes  to 
Mrs.  Jardine^  offering  to  kiss  her.]  Good-night, 
Mrs.   Jardine! 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Embracing  Mrs.  Gorringe  and  hissing  her 
affectionately  on  each  cheek.]  Good-night,  dear 
Mrs.  Gorringe.  Sleep  well.  [Mrs.  Gorringe 
goes  out.]  What  a  woman!  [Mrs.  Jardine  and 
Vicky  go  out.] 

David. 

Isabel.  [She  comes  to  him.]  I  am  going  to 
try  and  be  worthy  of  you. 

Isabel. 
You're  beginning  to  be  hopeful. 


90  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

David. 

Yes. 

Isabel. 

You  looked  so  depressed  I  was  almost  sorry 
for  what  I  said. 

David. 

You  did  me  a  world  of  good.  I  think  you 
saved  me. 

[Colonel  Jardine  enters,  drawing  Mow- 
bray by  the  arm.  Mowbray  wears  an 
overcoat  and  carries  a  suit-case  in  his 
hand.  Jernigan  follows  them  and 
stands  near  the  door. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[In  his  most  jovial  manner,  laughing  and  draw- 
ing Mowbray  along.]  What  do  you  think  I 
found  this  rascal  doing?  Sneaking  out  of  the 
house  to  get  the  last  train  without  saying  a  word 
to  any  of  us. 

Mowbray. 

[Embarrassed.]  I  was  called  away.  I  left  a 
note  and  asked  David  to  explain. 

Isabel. 

[Seeing  Mowbray  is  embarrassed,  goes  towards 
him  to  help  him  out.]  Father,  Captain  Mowbray 
may  be  going  on  important  business.  Don't  make 
him  miss  his  train. 


MBS,   GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE  91 

Jernigan. 

[Comes  forward.'}  Excuse  me.  [They  all  looJc 
towards  Jernigan.]  No  one  ought  to  leave  the 
house  to-night  if  it  can  possibly  be  avoided. 

[David  turns  away  to  conceal  his  alarm 
from  the  others. 

Mowbray. 

[Readily.']  Certainly.  [Puts  his  suit-case  on 
the  floor.] 

Jernigait. 

[Naturally,  —  not  at  all  suspicious  of  Mow- 
bray.]    Just  while  this  enquiry  is  going  on. 

Mowbray. 

Yes,  I  see.  I  didn^t  think  of  that.  1^11  stay. 
[Stoops  to  pick  up  his  suit-case.] 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Don't  you  bother  about  that,  the  servant  will 
take  it  up. 

Mowbray. 
Thank  you. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[To  Jernigan.]  Now,  I'm  thinking  of  going 
to  bed.  Do  you  want  me  for  anything  more  to- 
night ? 

Jernigan. 

No,  I  can  get  on  all  right.     I  may  look  about 


92  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

the  house  after  you  have  retired,  but  I  shan't  dis- 
turb anyone. 

[Colonel  Jardine  and  Mowbray  and 
Jernigan  go  out 

Isabel. 

Now  I  must  rush  up  and  help  Mrs.  Gorringe 
to  install  herself  in  my  room.  She's,  sure  to  bring 
about  a  dozen  dressing-gowns  and  little  jackets. 
You  wait  here  and  then  I'll  come  back  and  say 
good-night  to  you  properly. 

[Goes  out  quickly,  smiling  hack  at  David. 

David. 

[With  decision.]  Her  room  is  empty  and  next 
to  mine.     I'll  take  it  back  now. 

[He  crosses  quickly  to  the  howl,  looks 
hastily  towards  the  door,  then  dips  his 
hand  in  the  howl.  Mowbray  strolls  in. 
He  has  taken  off  his  overcoat.  He  pauses 
and  looks  at  David.  He  shows  plainly 
that  his  curiosity  is  aroused.  He  closes 
the  door.  Hearing  the  door  close  David 
takes  his  hand  quickly  from  the  howl, 
turns  round  and  sees  Mowbray.  He  is 
uncertain  ivhether  Mowbray  has  no- 
ticed anything  or  not.  He  comes  to- 
wards him  with  an  assumption  of  ease. 

David. 

Hullo,  Frank. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  93 

Mowbray. 

Hullo. 

David. 

It's  awfully  hard  lines  to  have  to  stay  when 
you're  feeling  so  bad  about  it. 

Mowbray. 

[Searching  the  hoolc-shelves  and  the  writing- 
table.]     Yes,  but  it  can't  be  helped. 

David. 
[After  a  slight  pause.]     Aren't  you  going  up? 

Mowbray. 

Not  yet.  I  shall  stay  here  awhile.  I  was  look- 
ing for  something  to  read,  but  I  can't  find  any- 
thing I  want.  [Sees  his  suit-case.]  Oh.  [Pulls 
it  towards  him  and  unstraps  it  as  he  spealcs.]  I 
have  a  book  here  that  I  took  to  read  in  the  train. 
[Opens  the  suit-case  and  takes  out  a  hooTc,  lets 
the  lid  of  the  case  fall  down  without  shutting 
it.]  If  they  aren't  coming  back,  we  may  as  well 
make  ourselves  comfortable.  [Puts  his  feet  up 
on  the  sofa,  facing  David,  opens  the  booh  and 
h-eads.  David  loolcs  at  him  undecidedly,  then 
strolls  towards  the  window.  When  his  bach  is 
turned,  Mowbray  glances  up  from  his  book  and 
watches  David.  When  David  turns  towards  him 
he  pretends  to  be  absorbed  in  his  booh.] 


94  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

David. 

I  say,  Frank,  Isabel  asked  me  to  wait  for  her 
here. 

Mowbray. 
[Without  looking  up.]     Did  she? 

David. 
She's  coining  back  to  say  good-night  to  me. 

MOWBRAT. 

\_As  before,']     Oh. 

David. 

We  can't  very  well  say  good-night  with  you 
in  the  room. 

Mowbray. 

Then  say  it  in  another  room.  [Continues  read- 
ing.'] 

David. 

Well,  how  long  are  you  going  to  stay  here? 

Mowbray. 

[Without  looking  up.]  An  hour  or  two. 
[David  goes  out  into  the  garden  reluctantly,  look- 
ing hach  at  Mowbray  from  the  window.  Mow- 
bray appears  to  he  absorbed  in  his  booh.  As  soon 
as  David  is  out  of  sight,  Mowbray  throws  down 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  95 

his  hook,  jumps  up,  goes  quickly  to  the  howl,  dips 
his  hand  in,  takes  out  the  necklace  wrapped  in 
the  handkerchief,  unwraps  the  handkerchief  and 
discovers  the  necklace.}     Good  God! 

[Isabel  enters. 

Mowbray. 

Look  here,  I  know  I  can  trust  you;  I\e  found 
the  necklace. 

[She  looks  at  the  necklace  with  great  sur- 
prise. 

Isabel. 

Where? 

Mowbray. 

In  that  howl.  [Indicates  the  howl.l  Take  it 
back  to  her  room  —  and  say  — 

[Jernigan  enters. 

Jeristigan". 

I  beg  your  pardon.  I  have  just  come  in  to 
make  a  thorough  search  here —  [Points  to  the 
necklace  in  Isabel^s  hands.}  May  I  see  what 
you  have  there? 

Isabel. 

The  necklace.  Captain  Mowbray  has  just 
found  it  in  that  bowl. 

[Isabel    looks  at  Mowbray.      He  nods. 
She  gives  the  necklace  to  Jernigan". 


96  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Jernigan. 
1^11  take  charge  of  it. 

Isabel. 

I'll  go  and  tell  her  it's  found.  IGoing  towards 
the  door.'] 

Mowbray. 
[Going  towards  the  garden  entrance.]     I  must 
go  and  see  David. 

[Isabel  goes  out. 

Jernigan. 

It's  a  most  unpleasant  duty,  but  I  am  bound  to 
ask  if  you  wish  to  make  any  explanation. 

Mowbray. 
[Hesitates  a  moment.]     I?    None. 

Jernigan. 

Do  you  mind  telling  me  what  made  you  look 
in  there?     [Indicating  the  howl.] 

Mowbray. 

I'd  rather  not  say  anything  yet.  It's  a  little 
late  to  disturb  the  household.  You  and  I  will 
see  the  Colonel  in  the  morning. 

[Mowbray  goes  out  into  the  garden. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE  97 

Jernigan. 

[Looks  after  Mowbray,  then  looTcs  into  the 
howl.  Next  he  examines  the  handkerchief  to  see 
if  it  has  a  name  on  it.  He  then  kneels  heside  the 
suit-case,  opens  it,  finds  another  handkerchief, 
compares  the  two  and  exclaims.']     Mowbray! 


CURTAIN. 


THE    THIED    ACT 

SCENE:  —  Same  as  Acts  I  and  11,  It  is  after 
breakfast  the  next  morning.  David  and 
Isabel  are  standing,  looking  in  each  other^s 
eyes,  holding  each  other's  hands.  Isabel  is 
dressed  to  go  out. 

Isabel. 

I  shall  tell  them  I'm  going  to  do  my  shopping, 
and  you  follow  me  in  a  few  minutes. 

David. 

Yes. 

[Mowbray  enters  from  the  garden, 

Mowbray. 
Are  you  going  out? 

Isabel. 

Yes.     I'm  going  into  the  town. 

[Isabel  goes  out, 
Mowbray. 

Last  night  when  I  came  to  tell  you  where  I 
found  Mrs.  Gorringe's  necklace,  I  couldn't  get 
much  out  of  you. 

d8 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  99 

David. 
I  felt  awfully  sleepy. 

Mowbray. 
I  suppose  you're  wide  awake  this  morning. 

David. 

[Smiling  —  uneasily.]     Yes  —  why  ? 

Mowbray. 

It  was  seeing  you  take  your  hand  out  of  that 
bowl  that  made  me  look  there  afterwards. 

David. 
I  remember  you  saying  that. 

Mowbray. 

I've  been  wondering  ever  since  what  you  could 
have  been  looking  there  for? 

David. 

Oh  —  for    matches.     They    sometimes    keep    a 
box  there.  ' 

Mowbray. 

It  was  funny  that  when  you  were  looking  for 
the  matches  you  didn't  see  the  necklace. 

David. 
Yes.     I  don't  know  how  it  was. 


100  MRS.   GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE 

Mowbray. 

H'm.  [David  turns  away.'\  Is  that  all  you've 
got  to  say  about  it? 

David. 

.[Trying  to  bluff  Mowbray.]  You  trust  my 
word  —  don't  you  ? 

Mowbray. 

[LooJcs  at  him  sorrowfully,  goes  to  Mm  and 
lays  his  hand  on  him  as  he  says.'\  My  dear  old 
boy,  I'm  the  best  friend  you  have. 

David. 
[Uneasily.']     I  know  that. 

Mowbray. 

[LooTcing  at  his  face.]  Have  you  nothing  more 
to  tell  me? 

David. 

[Glances  uneasily  at  Mowbray  before  he  an- 
swers.]    No.     [Moves  away.] 

[Colonel  Jardine  enters. 

Colonel  Jardine. 
David,  I  hear  you've  got  your  marching  orders. 

David. 

Yes.  We  sail  on  Friday.  I  must  join  to- 
night, so  I  shall  have  to  leave  here  this  morning. 


MRS,   GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE  101 

Colonel  Jardine. 
We  shall  be  sorry  to  lose  you. 

David. 

Thank  you.  [Tahes  up  a  newspaper  and  pre- 
tends to  read  it,  as  he  listens  anxiously  to  the 
other  two.} 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Well,  now,  Mowbray,  what  would  you  do  about 
Mrs.  Gorringe^s  necklace,  if  you  were  in  my  place  ? 

Mowbray. 
[Deliberately.l     Nothing. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Surprised.']  Nothing?  Pooh,  nonsense! 
Must  do  something.  It's  only  fair  to  Mrs.  Gor- 
ringe. 

Mowbray. 

Mrs.  Gorringe  has  got  it  back. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Yes,  but  —  it  was  a  very  awkward  thing,  you 
know,  her  losing,  it  in  our  house.  We  ought  to 
go  to  the  bottom  of  this. 

Mowbray. 

I  should  think,  as  she  is  a  visitor  here,  she'd 
be  very  unwilling  to  make  any  trouble  about  it. 


102  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Colonel  Jakdine. 

But  still,  you  know  —  it  makes  me  feel  very 
insecure.  If  one  of  the  servants  is  a  thief,  I 
want  to  know  which  it  is. 

Mowbray. 

It  never  seems  quite  fair  to  suppose  that  it's 
one  of  the  servants  just  because  youVe  no  evidence 
that  it  isn't. 

Colonel  Jardine. 
It  can't  be  one  of  us. 

Mowbray. 

[Spealcs  very  earnestly,  aiming  his  words  at 
David  as  well  as  at  Colonel  Jardine.]  It  may 
be  someone  who  fell  suddenly  in  a  moment  of  over- 
whelming temptation.  This  may  be  the  first  and 
last  crime  of  someone  —  going  about  the  house 
this  morning  showing  an  inscrutable  face  but 
hiding  a  heart  that's  quivering  with  shame  and 
terror.  If  you  track  him  with  detectives  you'll 
make  a  criminal  of  him;  you'll  push  him  into 
that  damning  underworld  of  society  which  is  the 
only  one  open  to  the  gaol-bird.*  If  you  let  this 
thing  rest  now  —  persuade  your  detective  it  was 
a  mistake,  —  say  the  necklace  was  only  mislaid, 
and  send  him  away  —  you  may  save  a  man. 

[He   stands    watching   the   effects   of  his 
words    on    Colonel   Jardine.      David 


MRS.   GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE  103 

watches  them  furtively  with  painful  anx' 
iety. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

You  make  me  extremely  uncomfortable.  It's 
taking  such  a  responsibility  either  way. 

Mowbray. 
Give  him  the  chance. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

But  —  he  may  be  a  regular  thief  —  or  he  may 
be  she. 

Mowbray. 

Then  give  her  the  chance. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

I  don't  know  that  it's  quite  fair  to  Mrs.  Gor- 
ringe  not  to  sift  this  thing  to  the  bottom. 

Mowbray. 

But,  Colonel  —  if  you  take  away  a  man's  last 
chance  of  turning  honest  —  think  how  uncom- 
fortable you'll  feel  for  the  rest  of  your  life. 

Colonel  Jardine. 
I  am  thinking  of  that. 

Mowbray. 
Never  to  know  another  good  night's  rest. 


104  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Colonel  Jardine. 
Stop  that,  Mowbray. 

Mowbray. 

Colonel,  you  used  to  be  the  best-hearted  man  in 
your  regiment.  Your  only  fault,  as  a  soldier,  was 
that  you  were  a  bit  too  kind,  but  it's  a  fault  that 
becomes  you  now  you've  retired. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Smiles,  well  pleased  with  himself.']  Oh,  my 
dear  fellow  —  what  nonsense. 

Mowbray. 
Live  up  to  your  reputation! 

Colonel  Jardik^e. 

Well,  perhaps  we'd  better  let  this  thing  slide 
now. 

Mowbray. 

Shall  I  tell  the  detective?  [About  to  go  and 
do  so.     Colonel  Jardine  stops  him.] 

Colonel  Jardine. 

No.  I'll  tell  him.  I  shall  have  to  give  him 
something  for  himself. 

Mowbray. 
Then  we  may  consider  it  settled? 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE  105 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Yes. 

[David  cmi  scarcely  conceal  his  relief.   He 
lays  down  his  paper  and  goes  out. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Still  smiling  under  the  influence  of  Mow- 
BRAY^s  flattery.]  I  suppose  I  am  a  soft-hearted 
old  duffer,  but  you  know  I'm  a  happier  man  for  it. 

Mowbray. 

Of  course  you  are;  and  what  a  rare  combina- 
tion that  is.    A  soft  heart  and  a  hard  brain. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Delighted.^  You've  noticed  the  working  of 
my  brain ! 

*   Mowbray. 

With  amazement. 

[Mrs.  Gorringe  enters  from  the  garden. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Cordially  greeting  Colonel  Jardine.]  Good 
morning.     Isn't  it  a  lovely  day? 

Mowbray. 
[Cheerfully.']     Good  morning,  Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
[Bows  coldly.]  ,  Good  morning. 


106  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Colonel  Jardine. 
So  yoTi\e  got  your  necklace  back. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

II n  an  aggrieved  tone,']  That  detective  won't 
give  it  me.  He  says  he  is  going  to  keep  it  him- 
self. 

Mowbray. 

Only  during  the  investigation. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

That's  what  he  says.  How  do  I  know  he  won't 
keep  it  altogether.  I  should  never  have  sent  for 
him  if  I'd  known  he  was  going  to  behave  like  that. 

Mowbray. 
[Amused.]     Did  you  tell  him  so? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Not  in  so  many  words.  But  when  he  refused 
to  give  it  up,  I  couldn't  help  saying  "  Oh ! " 

Mowbray. 
By  jove!   that  was  severe. 

Colonel  Jardine. 
Let  me  explain  it  to  you. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  107 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

I  don't  want  explanations.  I  want  my  neck- 
lace. 

Mowbray. 

You'll  get  it  back  at  once —  [Mrs.  Gorringe 
turns  quickly  to  Mowbray.]  — If  you  persuade 
the  detective  you  mislaid  it. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
But  I  didn't  mislay  it. 

Mowbray. 

Couldn't  you  stretch  the  truth  just  about  a 
quarter  of  an  inch? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Why? 

Mowbray. 

To  make  it  meet  charity.  Say  you  put  your 
necklace  there  yourself.     [Points  to  the  bowl.'] 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
He  would  think  me  a  silly  woman. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

You  see,  Mrs.  Gorringe,  we  don't  want  to  prose- 
cute anyone  if  we  can  avoid  it.  It  has  just  oc- 
curred to  me  that  the  thief  may  be  some  poor 
fellow  who  wants  to  turn  honest  —  so  give  him  a 
chance. 


108  MRS.   GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE 

Mowbray. 

Don't  trample  on  the  Coloners  generous  im- 
pulses. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
But  what  about  my  other  jewels? 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Good  gracious!  You  haven't  lost  anything 
else? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Not  yet.  But  if  I  give  him  a  chance  I  shall. 
He  might  take  my  rubies  next,  or  my  emerald 
lizard. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Becoming  uncomfortable.']  To  be  sure,  we 
might  all  lose  our  valuables.  It  wasn't  entirely 
my  suggestion  to  let  the  matter  drop.  In  fact,  it 
was  Mowbray's. 

Mrs.  Gorringe.  > 

[With  marhed  disapproval.l  Then  I  consider 
that  Captain  Mowbray  took  a  great  deal  upon 
himself. 

MOV^BRAY. 

Don't  trample  on  my  generous  impulses. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

It's  all  very  well  for  gentlemen  to  talk  about 
being  generous  to  thieves.     They  never  have  any 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  109 

jewelry  to  speak  of.     [Turns  her  hack  on  Mow- 
bray.] 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Mrs.  Gorringe  is  very  wise  to  think  about  her 
other  jewels. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Yes,  am  I  not  wise? 

Mowbray. 

I  don't  think  the  emerald  lizard  is  in  danger, 
as,  after  this,  Mrs.  Gorringe  is  sure  to  be  more 
careful  what  she  leaves  about. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

I  shall  do  exactly  as  I  please  about  locking  up 
my  jewelry. 

Mowbray. 

[Persuasively,  to  Mrs.  Gorringe.]  Though 
our  generous  impulses  don't  move  you,  I'm  sure, 
from  what  I  know  of  you,  your  own  will. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Trying  to  he  dignified  and  firm.']  I  beg  you 
will  not  try  to  flatter  me  again.  I  don't  like  it. 
If  Mr.  Gorringe  were  here,  I  should  certainly 
speak  to  him  about  it.     [Moves  away  from  him.] 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Of  course,  Mrs.  Gorringe  must  keep  the  detec- 
tive if  she  wants  to. 


110  MRS.    GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE 

Mowbray. 

[Calculating  the  effect  of  his  words  on  Mrs. 
GrORRiNGE.]  I  supposG  theie^s  nothing  for  it  but 
to  find  the  thief  and  try  him  —  while  Scotland 
Yard  keeps  the  necklace. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Eh! —  [To  Colonel  Jardine.]  How  long 
will  that  take  ? 

Colonel  Jardine. 
Oh  —  a  few  weeks. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
[In  dismay,}     Weeks! 

Mowbray. 
Months  —  more  likely. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Months ! 

Colonel  Jardine. 
Now,  what  shall  we  do? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

I  don't  care  what  you  do,  as  long  as  I  get  my 
necklace  back.  I  must  say  I  think  the  whole  affair 
looks  extremely  fishy. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  111 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Well,  let's  go  and  interview  this  fellow  Jernigan. 
[Goes  towards  the  door,  then  stops.]  But  you 
know,  I  don't  like  this  tarradiddling  with  Scotland 
Yard, 

Mowbray. 

[Seriously.']  Nor  do  I,  I  don't  like  it  at  all. 
[To  Colonel  Jardine.]  But,  believe  me,  it's 
for  the  best.  [Colonel  Jardine  goes  out.]  Be- 
lieve me,  Mrs.  Gorringe,  it  is  for  the  best. 

[Mrs.  Gorringe  tosses  her  head,  takes  up 
a  newspaper  and  turns  her  hack  on  Mow- 
bray.   Mowbray  goes  out.] 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[With  the  newspaper  in  her  hand.]  Just  be- 
cause he  has  been  out  to  South  Africa,  he  thinks 
he  can  teach  us  everything.  They  are  so  deter- 
mined to  hush  it  up,  I  suppose  there'll  be  nothing 
about  it  in  the  paper.  [Mrs.  Jardine  enters.] 
They  aren't  going  to  try  and  find  out  who  stole 
my  necklace. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

It  seems  funny  you  should  know  that,  Mrs. 
Gorringe.    I  have  not  been  consulted  yet. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Captain  Mowbray  has  persuaded  Colonel  Jar- 
dine to  send  the  detective  away. 


112  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Since  when  did  Captain  Mowbray  become  the 
mistress  of  this  house? 


Mrs.  Gorringe. 

That's  what  I  felt  inclined  to  ask.  I  never  met 
such  a  forward  busybody  as  he  is. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Bridling  quickly. 1  I'm  sorry  you  don't  like 
our  guests,  Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

I  don't  blame  you,  dear  Mrs.  Jardine  —  not  for 
anything.  I'm  sure  you  had  no  idea  —  when  you 
invited  me  —  that  my  necklace  would  be  stolen. 
And  I  shan't  let  it  make  any  difference  between 
us.    I  shall  still  stay  my  week  out. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[After  a  moment  of  dismay,  says  very  politely.'\ 
Of  course,  if  you  prefer  to  curtail  your  visit,  I 
shall  quite  understand. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Oh,  no,  dear.  I  really  have  no  ill  feeling  about 
it,  but  I  suppose  I  shall  never  convince  you  if  I 
don't  stay  on,  so  I'll  even  extend  my  visit  a  little 
if  you  like.     [Sits  smiling  an  the  sofa.'] 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  113 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
[With  a  forced  smile.]     Oh,  I  hope  you  will. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Cheerfully.']    Of  course  I  will. 

[Vicky  enters^  followed  by  Colonel  Jar- 
dine  with  the  necklace,  which  he  gives 
to  Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Vicky.  • 

Here  it  is ! 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Oh,  thank  you.     [Purrs  over  her  necklace.] 

Vicky. 

Let  me  see  it.  [Tries  to  take  the  necklace  in 
her  hands.  Mrs.  Gorringe  draws  it  away  and 
holds  it  up  for  her  to  see  at  a  safe  distance.  Vicky 
touches  it  with  her  finger  as  she  says.]  There  they 
are !  There  are  the  five  drops  in  front  and  there's 
the  pearl  clasp. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Christopher,  have  you  sent  the  detective  away? 
[Holds  up  her  hand  to  prevent  him  answering.] 
Wait!  Before  you  tell  me,  perhaps  you'd  better 
go  and  ask  Captain  Mowbray's  permission. 

Colonel  Jardine. 
[Good-naturedly.]     Nonsense,   Emily!     I  told 


114  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Jernigan  if  he'd  like  to  stay  till  noon  I'd  show 
him  round  the  place. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
A  very  superfluous  attention. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Smiling  conceitedly.]  Oh,  well.  It  never 
does  us  any  harm  to  be  good-natured;  we  feel  all 
the  happier  for  it.  He'll  be  so  pleased  he  won't 
expect  a  present. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Purring  over  her  necklace.']  I  do  wish  I 
knew  who  stole  you. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[With  decision.]  There  isn't  any  doubt  at  all 
in  my  mind. 

Colonel  Jardine. 
Who?  , 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Pipkin.  Nothing  will  ever  convince  me  other- 
wise. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Unconscious  that  he  is  quoting  Mowbray.  He 
thinks  it  is  his  own  sentiment.]  It  never  seems 
quite  fair  to  suppose  it's  one  of  the  servants  just 
because  you've  got  no  evidence  that  it  isn't. 


MRS,    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  115 

Mrs.  Jakdine. 

[Obstinately.'}  I  shall  certainly  discharge  Pip- 
kin. 

Colonel  Jakdine. 
We  have  no  proof  against  her. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

I  have  all  the  proof  I  want.  [Turns  to  the 
others  and  spealcs  as  if  she  were  delivering  a  strong 
argument.']  If  she  had  no  motive  for  concealing 
the  necklace,  she'd  have  found  it  when  she  did  the 
room.  That  proves  that  if  she  is  innocent  —  she 
doesn't  do  the  rooms. 

Vicky. 
[Giggling.]     Oh,  mother,  you  are  so  funny. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Thoughtfully.]  In  spite  of  what  Mowbray 
said,  I  think  we  ought  to  get  to  the  root  of  this 
matter.  * 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

So  do  I. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

If  Isabel  had  left  it  to  me,  instead  of  sending 
for  a  detective  on  her  own  account,  I've  no  doubt 
I  could  have  sifted  this  thing  down  myself.  It 
only  needs  a  little  cross-examination.  [He  sets 
about  his  cross-examination  in  a  quick,  alert  way 


116  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

which  he  thinks  is  'business-like  and  penetrating, 
Mrs.  Gorringe  pays  the  deepest  attention.  Mrs. 
Jardine  superciliously  ignores  them.  He  ad- 
dresses Mrs.  Gorringe,  speaking  rapidly.']  Now, 
you  say  you  saw  the  necklace  for  the  last  time  the 
night  before  it  was  lost,  but  you  didn't  see  it  in  the 
morning.  No.  You  saw  it  again  in  the  after- 
noon—  that  is,  you  saw  it  wasn't  there  in  the 
afternoon.    Is  that  right  ? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Yes. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Without  waiting  for  Mrs.  Gorringe  to  say 
more,  shoots  his  next  question  at  Mrs.  Jardine.] 
Now,  then,  where  were  you?  [Waits  for  her  to 
reply.  She  ignores  him  by  turning  her  chair  with 
its  back  to  him.] 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Mrs.  Jardine  was  here. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Turns  quickly  to  Mrs.  Gorringe.]  Oh,  she 
was  here. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Yes.    On  this  sofa.     [Pats  the  sofa."] 

Colonel  Jardine. 
[Addressing  Mrs.  Gorringe  in  the  same  alert 


MRS,    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  117 

manner.']  Oh  —  well,  now.  You  didn't  see  it 
practically  all  yesterday,  so  it  might  have  been 
taken  any  time  yesterday  up  to  the  time  you  found 
it  was  taken.  You  can't  tell.  [Dwells  on  next 
line  as  if  he  were  making  an  important  point.] 
But  you  did  see  it  the  night  before  ? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
[Deeply  impressed.]     Yes. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Well,  now  —  we've  got  that  far.  [Turns  sud- 
denly to  Mrs.  Jardine.]  When  did  you  last 
see  it  ?  [She  still  ignores  him.]  Emily,  when  did 
you  last  see  Mrs.  Gorringe's  necklace  ?  [She  slowly 
changes  her  position,  elaborately  ignoring  them.] 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[After  a  pause,  during  which  she  and  Colonel 
Jardine  both  watch  Mrs.  Jardine.]  Please  say 
when  you  last  saw  it. 

[A  look  of  irritation  passes  over  Mrs.  Jar- 
dine's  face  when  Mrs.  Gorringe  speaks. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Emily,  we  are  trying  to  sift  this  thing  down.  I 
want  you  to  say  when  you  last  saw  Mrs.  Gorringe's 
necklace. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

We  can't  go  on  till  you  do. 


118  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

[A  long  pause,  during  which  Colonel  Jar- 
dine  and  Mrs.  Gorringe  watch  Mrs. 
Jardine,  waiting  for  her  reply.  She 
shows  signs  of  growing  impatience. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Emily. 

[Mrs.  Jardine  begins  to  writhe  with  an- 
noyance. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Please  say,  Mrs.  Jardine. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Unable  to  curb  herself  any  longer,  rises  and 
rounds  on  Mrs.  Gorringe.]  Hold  your  tongue. 
[Mrs.  Gorringe  utters  a  scream  of  surprise 
and  indignation.  Then  there  is  dead 
silence,  during  which  they  all  remain 
perfectly  still,  no  one  looking  at  anyone 
else.  Isabel  enters,  looks  round  in  sur- 
prise.   They  all  remain  still  as  waxworks. 

Isabel. 
Wliafs  happened? 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Your  father  thinks  he  was  cut  out  for  a  detec- 
tive, and  as  if  I  wasn't  on  the  rack  long  enough 
yesterday,  he  must  begin  goading  me  with  ques- 
tions again  this  morning. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  119 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

I'm  sure  Colonel  Jardine  didn't  mean  to  goad 
you. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Turning  angrily  to  Mrs.  Gorringe.]  If  you'd 
lock  your  things  up  properly,  instead  of  letting 
them  lie  about  all  over  the  house,  we  should  have 
been  saved  all  this  turmoil. 

[They  are  all  shocked  as  before.  Mrs. 
GoRRiNGE  utters  another  scream.  Isabel 
tries  to  calm  her  mother. 

Isabel. 

Mother ! 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Refuses  to  he  calmed.}  Yes,  I  mean  it.  My 
house  was  a  happy  home  till  she  came.  Now  I 
can't  tell  it  from  a  police  court. 

[Mrs.  Gorringe  screams  again.  The  other 
three  all  remonstrate  at  once  with  Mrs. 
Jardine. 

Isabel  and  Vicky. 
[Together.]     Mother ! 

Colonel  Jardine. 
My  dear! 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
I  was  surrounded  by  a  loving  family,  and  now 


120  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

see  them  turn  on  me.     [To  Mrs.  Gorringe.]   And 
it's  all  you  I 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
[Wildly.}     Do  you  know  what  you  are  saying? 

Isabel. 
[To  Mrs.  Jardine.]     Don't  say  any  more. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Oh,  of  course,  you  all  take  Mrs.  Gorringe's  side 
and  turn  on  me.  That's  just  what  I  should  have 
expected  of  you. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Rises  and  tries  to  assume  dignity  as  she  ad- 
dresses Mrs.  Jardine.]  I  could  say  a  good  deal. 
I  might  say  how  unsympathetic  you  have  been  all 
along  about  my  necklace,  but  I  think  it  would  be 
more  dignified  simply  to  draw  my  visit  to  a  close. 

[Goes  out. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
[Muttering  after  her.']     About  time,  too. 

Isabel. 

[To  Vicky,  as  Mrs.  Gorringe  goes  out.]  You 
go  with  Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Vicky  goes  out  after  Mrs.  Gorringe. 


MRS,    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  121 

Isabel. 

Now,  mother,  do  pull  yourself  together  and 
apologise  to  her. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
Apologise?     She'll  want  to  stay  her  week  out. 

Isabel. 
You're  breaking  all  the  laws  of  hospitality. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Whoever  made  the  laws  of  hospitality  didn't 
know  Mrs.  Gorringe.  I'd  believe  anything  of  that 
woman.  I'd  like  to  know  what  she  was  before  Mr. 
Gorringe  married  her  —  if  they  are  married. 

Isabel. 
[Protesting.']     Mother ! 

Colonel  Jardine. 

She  said  she  was  a  Miss  Rose  Pilkington  of 
Ipswich. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Derisively.']  Ipswich !  A  shop-keeper's 
daughter,  I  suppose.  Chemist,  I  should  think. 
Can't  you  see  the  sign  over  the  shop  door,  "  Pilk- 
ington. Chemist"  ?  Gold  letters  on  a  black 
ground.  [Having  really  convinced  'herself  that 
Mrs.  Gorringe  was  a  chemist's  daughter.]  That 
accounts  for  her  lack  of  breeding.    No  lady  would 


122  MRS.    GORRINGE'S    NECKLACE 

quarrel  with  her  hostess.  But  I  suppose  she  can't 
be  expected  to  know  better  —  poor  thing  —  with 
her  upbringing. 

[Vicky  enters  quickly. 

Vicky. 

Mrs.  Gorringe  says  she  won't  stay  another 
minute. 

[Mrs.  Gorringe  enters.    Her  only  change 
of  dress  is  that  she  now  wears  her  hat. 
Mrs.  Jardine  turns  her  back  on  Mrs. 
'  Gorringe. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

No,  I  couldn't  think  of  it.  I  flew  upstairs  and 
opened  the  wardrobe  and  simply  snatched  the  first 
hat  I  saw.  I  didn't  even  stop  to  get  a  veil.  Then 
I  flew  down  again,  and,  now,  though  it's  damp 
under  foot  this  morning,  I'm  going  out  in  my 
house  shoes.  [Goes  to  Colonel  Jardine^  extend- 
ing her  hand  cordially.]  Good-bye.  [Shakes 
hands  cordially  with  Isabel.]     Good-bye. 

Isabel. 
But  you  aren't  going  to  the  train  that  way. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Pleasantly.]  Oh,  no;  I'm  only  going  to  Miss 
Potts'. 

[Mrs.  Gorringe  and  Mrs.  Jardine  look  at 
each   other,   up   and   down;    then   turn 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  123 

away  contemptuously.     Mrs.  Gorringe 
goes  out,  followed  by  Vicky. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Now,  let  us  breathe  again.  I  feel  as  if  we'd  had 
some  infectious  disease  in  the  house. 

[Mrs.  Jardine  goes  out. 

Isabel. 
How  did  it  all  begin  ? 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Scratches  his  head,  puzzled.^  I  hardly  know. 
Your  mother  is  so  uncertain.  She  answered  the 
detective's  questions  all  right.  I  don't  see  why 
she  wouldn't  answer  mine.  I  was  just  trying  to 
sift  this  thing  down  with  a  little  cross-examination. 
You  know  I  think  we  ought  to  find  out  who  took 
that  necklace. 

Isabel. 

So  do  I. 

[Jernigan  enters. 

Jernigan. 
I'm  ready  to  be  shown  round,  if  it's  convenient 
to  you. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Oh,  yes.  Sit  down  a  minute.  [Jernigan  and 
Colonel  Jardine  sit  on  the  sofa.     Isabel  at  a 


124  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

little   distance.^     I   was   just   saying  I   think   I 
ought  to  know  who  took  that  necklace. 

Jernigan. 

[Surprised.']  I  understood  you  to  say  it  was 
only  mislaid. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Oh,  yes  —  so  I  did,  didn't  I?  But  my  wife 
doesn't  agree  with  me.  She  still  believes  that  the 
housemaid.  Pipkin,  is  the  culprit.  She's  going  to 
discharge  her. 

Jernigan. 

[Deliberately.']  If  it  was  stolen  —  I  don't 
think  it  was  by  one  of  your  servants. 

Isabel. 
Mr.  Jernigan  evidently  suspects  someone. 

Colonel  Jardine. 
Then  speak  out. 

Jernigan. 

All  the  evidence  I  have  been  able  to  gather 
points  against  one  of  your  guests. 

Isabel. 
Oh! 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Good    gracious !      But    we    only    have  —  well. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  125 

there's  David  Cairn  —  we've  always  known  him; 
besides,  he  was  away  when  it  was  stolen. 

Jernigan. 
I  don't  suspect  Mr.  Cairn. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

It  couldn't  be  Mrs.  Gorringe.  She  wouldn't 
steal  her  own  necklace. 

Jernigan. 
You  have  one  other  guest. 

Colonel  Jardine. 
You  can't  mean  Mowbray. 

Jernigan. 

Last  night  Captain  Mowbray  attempted  to  leave 
the  house  quietly  with  a  bag.  Soon  afterwards  he 
was  found  in  this  room  alone  with  the  necklace  in 
his  hands,  wrapped  in  a  handkerchief,  the  dupli- 
cate of  which  was  in  his  bag,  and  that  was  open. 

Isabel. 
But  he  found  the  necklace  in  that  bowl. 

Jernigan. 

[Looking  at  Isabel.]  Did  you  see  him  take  it 
out? 


126  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Isabel. 

Of  course  I  know  that  in  your  work  you  have  to 
judge  by  external  evidence,  but  in  this  case  I  am 
sure  it  has  misled  ypu.  Captain  Mowbray  is  an 
old  friend  of  ours. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Wait  a  minute,  Isabel.  This  is  certainly  very 
strange. 

Isabel. 

But,  father  —  youVe.  known  him  for  years. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Yes,  but  —  he's  been  at  me  just  now,  urging 
me  with  all  his  might  to  send  you  [looking  at  Jer- 
nigan]  away  and  have  no  more  enquiry. 

Jernigan. 
H'm.    That  doesn't  improve  his  case. 

Isabel. 

What  motive  could  he  have  for  stealing 
jewelry?    He's  a  rich  man. 

Colonel  Jardine. 
[To  Isabel.]     How  did  he  become  rich  ? 

Isabel. 
[Uncertainly.']     Mining  —  didn't  he? 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  127 

Colonel  Jardine. 

I  don^t  know.  [To  Jernigan.]  A  few  years 
ago  he  K^d  nothing.  Then  he  went  to  South  Africa 
and  came  back  rich.  It  was  only  yesterday  after- 
noon he  called  himself  an  adventurer. 

Isabel. 
A  good  proof  that  he  isn't  one. 

Jernigan. 

Mrs.  Gorringe  told  me  she  knew  something 
against  him.  When  I  questioned  her,  she  refused 
to  say  what  it  was.  But  she  admitted  that  since 
an  interview  she  had  with  him  last  evening  her 
opinion  of  him  had  undergone  a  change. 

Colonel  Jardine. 
She  seemed  very  huffy  with  him  just  now. 

Isabel. 
[Losing  her  temper,']     Mrs.  Gorringe  is  a  fool. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

That's  no  way  to  argue,  Isabel.  You  women  are 
so  emotional.    You  won't  stop  and  reason. 

Jernigan. 

Do  you  know  when  Captain  Mowbray  discovered 
you  had  a  detective  in  the  house  ? 


128  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Yes,  it  was  after  dinner.  I  heard  my  wife  tell 
him.  And  —  yes —  [turns  excitedly  to  Jerni- 
gan]  it  was  immediately  after  that  I  caught  him 
escaping. 

Isabel. 

[With  a  smothered  exclamation  of  indignation, 
which  attracts  their  attention.}     Oh ! 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Turning  to  Isabel.]  Do  you  know  why  he 
wanted  to  leave  in  such  a  hurry  —  without  a  word 
to  any  of  us? 

Isabel. 

No.  But  I  think  it's  shameful  to  make  such 
charges  against  a  man  like  Captain  Mowbray. 

Colonel  Jardine. 
I'm  not  going  to  make  a  charge  against  him. 

Isabel. 

Then  you  ought  to,  and  give  him  a  chance  to 
clear  himself. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Ko,  no.  Better  to  hush  it  up.  I  don't  want  to 
do  him  any  harm,  and  he'd  find  it  very  difficult  to 
explain  away  so  much  evidence. 

Isabel. 
What's  evidence  when  you  hnow  a  man  ? 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE     .      129 

Colonel  Jardine. 
You  argue  just  like  your  mother. 

Isabel. 

Mother's  going  to  discharge  Pipkin.  If  only 
to  stop  that  you  ought  to  tell  Captain  Mowbray 
what  you've  been  saying,  and  if  you  don't,  I  shall. 

[Mowbray  enters. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Nodding  awkwardly  and  trying  to  appear 
friendly.']  Hello,  Mowbray.  [Quickly,  to  Jer- 
NiGAN.]  Now,  if  you're  ready  I'll  show  you  round 
the  place. 

Jernigan. 

[Rising,  as  lie  says  aside  to  Colonel  Jardine.] 
I  should  like  to  question  you  further  about  Captain 
Mowbray. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Urging  Jernigan  towards  the  window.]  Yes, 
outside.  She'll  get  me  into  trouble  with  him  if  I 
stay  here. 

[Colonel  Jardine  and  Jernigan  go  out 
hurriedly  into  the  garden, 

Isabel. 

Can  you  tell  me  why  you  wanted  to  leave  us  so 
suddenly  last  night? 


130       .   MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Mowbray. 
Didn't  you  guess  ? 

Isabel. 
[Innocently. Ji     No. 

Mowbray. 
Then  I  mustn't  tell  you. 

Isabel. 

I  only  ask  you  because  —  well,  nobody  seems  to 
know  —  only  they  suspect  —  oh,  dreadful  things. 

Mowbray. 
Who  do? 

Isabel. 

Father  and  that  detective.  I  may  as  well  tell 
you  at  once.  You  know  you  went  to  father  this 
morning  and  urged  him  to  send  the  detective  away, 
and  you  were  found  with  the  necklace  last  night, 
and  so  they  think  you —  [Halts,  not  knowing 
how  to  express  herself  inoffensively.'} 

Mowbray. 

[LooTcs  at  her,  then  says  deliberately.']  They 
think  /  stole  it? 

[Isabel  nods.     He  looks  away  from  her 
slowly,  stands  still,  looking  very  grave. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  131 

Isabel. 

[Watches  him  anxiously  before  ^he  says.^  You 
know  I  don^t  believe  a  word  of  it. 

Mowbray. 

[Presses  her  hand  gratefully,  not  looking  at  her 
as  he  says.]     What  do  they  say? 

Isabel. 
You  know  the  way  men  argue. 

MOWBEAY. 

Yes,  yes ! 

Isabel. 

They  go  by  little  bits  of  evidence  —  pocket- 
handkerchiefs  and  bags  and  things  of  that  sort, 
instead  of  by  what  they  know.  They've  piled  up 
a  whole  mountain  of  what  they  call  evidence  — 
things  youVe  said  and  done  at  different  times, 
probably  without  thinking  —  and  when  I  tell  them 
it's  all  ridiculous,  they  call  me  emotional.  Oh, 
I'm  glad  I'm  not  a  man ! 

Mowbray. 
Are  they  going  to  take  any  sort  of  proceedings  ? 

Isabel. 

I  don't  know.  But  you  will  clear  yourself, 
won't  you  ? 


132  MRS.   GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE 

Mowbray. 
I  must. 

Isabel. 

I  can't  bear  to  hear  such  things  said  of  you. 

MOWBEAY. 

I  will  clear  myself. 

Isabel. 

That's  right.  [Moves  away.]  Then  there's 
another  thing.  [He  looks  askance  at  her,'] 
Mother's  going  to  discharge  one  of  the  maids. 

Mowbray. 
Oh! 

Isabel. 

There's  no  evidence  against  her.  It's  all  so 
silly.  Father  suspecting  you,  and  mother.  Pipkin. 
Aren't  people  dreadful? 

[David  enters.    Isabel  turns  to  him,  smil- 
ing affectionately. 

Isabel. 

Well,  David,  have  you  finished  packing  ?  [Turns 
to  Mowbray.]  Now,  do  go  and  see  them.  They 
are  somewhere  in  the  garden. 

Mowbray. 

[Quietly,  hut  ftrmly.}  I  want  to  speak  to 
David  first. 


MRS.   GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE  133 

Isabel. 

No,  afterwards.  David  and  I  haven't  long  to 
be  together.    He'll  have  to  go  to  his  train  soon. 

Mowbray. 
I  must  speak  to  David  now. 

David. 
Won't  it  do  afterwards,  Frank? 

M0V7BRAY. 

[With  authority.']     No,  now. 

Isabel. 

[Impressed  with  the  authority  of  his  tone,]  If 
it's  so  important.  Don't  keep  him  long.  [Goes 
out.] 

Mowbray. 

Since  you  went  out  they've  been  trying  again 
to  solve  the  mystery  of  who  stole  the  necklace. 

David. 

[Trying  to  conceal  his  dismay.]  I  thought 
they  were  going  to  let  it  drop. 

Mowbray. 

Mrs.  Jardine  is  going  to  discharge  one  of  the 
maids. 

David. 

Oh,  I'm  sorry. 


134  MRS.   GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE 

Mowbray. 
[^Carelessly,  to  put  him  off  his  giuirdJ]     Why 
are  you  sorry  ? 

David. 

Well  —  if  she's  innocent. 

MOWBEAY. 

I  didn't  say  she  Was.  [Goes  nearer  to  David.] 
I  suppose  you  don't  know  if  she's  innocent  or 
guilty  ? 

David. 

Of  course  not.    How  should  I? 

Mowbray. 

Then  you  couldn't  be  blamed  for  letting  her  go 
away  with  a  ruined  character  ? 

David. 

[Uneasy  under  Mowbray's  gaze.l  Of  course  I 
couldn't.  I  say,  you  must  excuse  me.  Isabel  is 
waiting  for  me.     [Goes  towards  the  door.} 

Mowbray. 
The  Colonel  suspects  someone  else. 

David. 
[Stopping  at  the  door."]     Who? 

Mowbray. 
Me. 


MRS.   GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE  135 

David. 

[Talcen  ahach.'}  You  ?  But  —  [coming  to- 
wards Mowbray]  can't  you  clear  yourself  ? 

Mowbray. 
How  do  you  know  I'm  not  guilty? 

David. 
That's  absurd. 

Mowbray. 

You  say  you  don't  know  how  the  necklace  got 
in  that  bowl? 

David. 

I  said  I  didn't  know  it  was  there. 

Mowbray. 

I  did  —  according  to  circumstantial  evidence. 
You'd  think  me  rather  a  cad  if  I  said  nothing  and 
let  the  poor  girl  be  ruined  —  wouldn't  you? 

David. 

[Reluctantly.']     Yes. 

Mowbray. 
When  I  saw  you  looking  there  —  for  matches  — 
By  the  way,  what  did  you  want  a  match  for? 

David. 
To  light  my  cigarette. 


136  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Mowbray. 
You  hadn't  got  one. 

David. 

I  was  getting  a  match  first. 

Mowbray. 

I  never  heard  of  anyone  getting  his  match  before 
he  got  his  cigarette. 

David. 

I  can't  explain  the  reason  for  every  little  thing 
I  do. 

Mowbray. 

[Assuming  an  easy  manner,  to  put  David  off 
his  guard.']  If  they  come  and  ask  me  awkward 
questions,  I  suppose  you  wouldn't  mind  me  telling 
them  why  I  looked  in  the  bowl. 

David. 

[Uneasily.']     No  —  only  —    [Pauses,] 

Mowbray. 
Only  what? 

David. 

I  was  only  thinking  it  might  make  it  look  a  bit 
queer  for  me. 

Mowbray. 

Why  ?    Even  if  you'd  been  found  with  the  neck- 


MBS,   GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE  137 

lace  in  your  hands,  as  I  was,  you^d  be  beyond 
suspicion. 

David. 
Yes  —  I  hope  so. 

Mowbray. 

Yes,  because  you  left  the  house  before  it  was 
last  seen,  and  didn^t  come  back  till  after  it  was 
stolen. 

David. 

Yes  —  I  know. 

Mowbray. 

[Sternly.l  You  told  me  you  were  in  the  house 
yesterday  afternoon  when  there  was  nobody  about. 

David. 

\TaJcen  aback,  hut  still  trying  to  hlujf.]  Well? 
Thaf  s  no  proof  of  anything. 

Mowbray. 

I'm  not  going  to  have  my  character  blackened 
for  something  I  didn't  do. 

David. 
But  I  shouldn't  think  they'll  charge  you  with  it  ? 

Mowbray. 

They'll  gossip  about  it.  I  may  have  to  bring 
an  action  for  slander. 


138  MRS.   GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

David. 
I  shouldn't  do  that. 

V 

Mowbray. 
You'll  be  abroad  when  I  do. 

David. 
What  have  I  got  to  do  with  it  ? 

Mowbray. 

I  thought  I  might  count  on  you  to  vouch  for  my 
good  character. 

David. 

Yes  —  of  course. 

Mowbray. 

Then  let  us  go  out  and  see  the  detective  now. 
[Goes  towards  the  window,  then  stops  and  turns 
to  David.]     Will  you  come? 

David. 
No. 

Mowbray. 
Why  not? 

David. 

You  needn't  take  any  notice  of  this.  They 
won't  do  anything,  and  it'll  all  die  down  soon. 


MRS.   GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  139 

Mowbray. 

[LoolMng  steadily  at  David.]  Are  you  quite 
satisfied  to  have  the  maid  discharged  ? 

David. 

[Losing  his  self -control.']  Why  do  you  look  at 
me  like  that?  You  keep  your  eyes  on  me  every 
minute  —  as  if  you  suspected  me. 

Mowbray. 
YouVe  denied  all  knowledge  of  it. 

David. 
Isn't  that  enough? 

Mowbray. 

Have  I  always  found  you  so  truthful  ?  [David 
quails  before  him,  then  sinks  into  an  arm-chair.'] 
David,  if  you  confess  to  me  now  anything  that 
incriminates  you  — 1^11  do  what  I  can  to  shield 
you.  Unless  these  charges  increase  till  I'm  forced 
to  defend  myself  before  the  world,  I'll  take  no  no- 
tice of  them,  although  Isabel  has  urged  me  to  dis- 
pel them,  and  God  knows  what  she'll  think  of  me 
if  I  don't.  Now,  although  they  may  have  enough 
evidence  to  arrest  me,  they'll  need  a  good  deal 
more  to  convict  me.  This  will  be  a  big  case, — 
the  kind  of  case  the  whole  country  watches  and 
reads  about.  You'll  be  drawn  into  it,  because  I 
shall  be  compelled  to  explain  why  I  looked  in 


140  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

that  bowl.  It  will  not  be  difficult  to  find  witnesses 
to  testify  what  train  you  came  down  by  yesterday 
—  not  t'he  one  you  said.  It  may  not  be  hard  to 
find  someone  who  saw  you  enter  the  house  while  we 
were  all  out,  for  I  shall  not  scruple  to  say  in  my 
own  defence  that  you  had  told  me  you  were  here 
then,  knowing  that  if  you  are  innocent  you  have 
nothing  to  fear.  Then  they^U  look  into  our  past 
lives  —  mine  and  yours.  They^ll  examine  your* 
record  to  see  if  you  have  a  reputation  for  truth 
and  honesty- — 

David. 

[Completely  hreaking  down.']  Frank!  Don't 
go  on !  I  did  it.  Oh,  why  did  you  tell  that  story  ? 
It  was  that  made  me  think  of  it  —  that  story 
about  a  man  who  stole  some  diamonds  and  was 
never  found  out.  It  stuck  in  my  mind  so.  I'd 
gone  to  pieces  anyway.  I'd  been  drinking  and  lost 
all  my  money  —  and  I  was  so  jealous  of  you  and 
Isabel.  When  I  came  in  yesterday  I  could  see  you 
both  from  my  window  —  laughing  together.  When 
I  came  out  of  my  room  I  passed  Mrs.  Gorringe's 
door.  It  was  open  a  little  way,  and  I  remembered 
her  saying  how  she  left  her  things  about,  and  that 
story  about  the  man  who  was  never  found  out 
came  back  and  possessed  me.  When  I  pushed  the 
door  I  could  see  the  things  lying  there  —  and  it 
seemed  so  easy.  [He  covers  his  face  with  his 
hands,  then  proceeds  more  calmly.]  I  came  to  my 
senses  as  soon  as  I  saw  you  all.  I  thought  I  could 
get  it  back  without  anyone  knowing.    I  prayed  for 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  141 

the  chance  to  put  it  back.  I  promised  Isabel  I'd 
make  a  fresh  start  —  and  I  will  —  I  will,  —  if 
you  won't  tell. 

Mowbray. 

I'll  shield  you  on  one  condition.  You  must  give 
up  Isabel. 

David. 

[Suddenly  scared,  says  hurriedly.']     I  can't. 

Mowbray. 
You  can't  marry  her  now. 

David. 

She  won't  know  —  no  one  will  know. 

Mowbray. 

That's  not  it.  Whether  you  and  I  know  or 
whether  the  whole  world  knows  —  you  fell  because 
you  are  dishonest.  That  is  why  you  must  give 
her  up. 

David. 

I  know  I'm  unworthy  of  her,  but  —  I'm  not  all 
bad. 

Mowbray. 

I  know  that.  I  don't  ask  you  to  be  perfect. 
We  all  have  our  faults.  But  it  isn't  the  number 
of  his  sins  that  mark  a  man  —  it's  the  kind. 


142  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

David. 

[Humhlt/.']  Don^t  you  think  —  with  this  ex- 
perience —  I  can  be  different  ? 

Mowbray. 

The  curse  of  degeneracy  is  always  there,  in 
your  mind  and  in  your  heart.  It's  like  a  taint  in 
the  blood.  It  warps  your  Judgment,  poisons  your 
impulses,  lures  you  into  constant  danger. 

David. 
But  with  Isabel  to  help  me  — 

Mowbray. 

To  help  you  —  she  —  to  give  up  her  life  to  you 
who  bring  her  only  shame  and  sorrow  —  to  expose 
her  sweet  nature  day  after  day  to  your  contamina- 
tion—  to  make  her  the  mother  of  your  children. 
No,  it's  not  to  be  thought  of  —  you  must  not  marry 
her. 

David. 

I  can't  give  her  up. 

Mowbray. 

Then  she  must  know  the  truth.  If  you  don't 
break  your  engagement  before  you  leave  this  house 
I  shall  tell  her  that  — 

Isabel. 
ICalls  outside,']     David  I 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  143 

[Isabel  enters.  Mowbray  breaks  off  sud- 
denly in  his  sentence  as  she  enters. 

Mowbray. 

[LooJcs  at  Isabel,  then  says  to  David.]  Tell 
her. 

[Mowbray  goes  out  into  the  garden. 

Isabel. 

David,  it's  nearly  time  for  you  to  go.  [David 
goes  towards  Isabel,  looks  at  her,  breaks  down  and 
sinks  on  the  sofa,  sobbing.  Isabel  comforts  him.^ 
Don't,  dear,  don't.    We  shan't  be  parted  very  long. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Knocks  on  the  door  and  calls  without.} 
David!     It's  time  to  go. 

Isabel. 
They're  calling  you. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[Knocking  and  calling  as  before.']  You'll  miss 
the  train. 

[Isabel  draws  David  gently  towards  the 
door.  He  folds  her  in  his  arms  in  a  long 
embrace. 

David. 

Isabel  I 


144  MBS,    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Isabel. 

Good-bye !     [He  goes  out;  she  goes  towards  the 
window,  looking  after  him  and  crying.'] 

[Mowbray  enters  quietly.  She  does  not 
see  him.  He  stands  and  watches  her  sor- 
rowfully as  she  waves  her  handkerchief 
out  of  the  window,  trying  ta  smile.  She 
turns  from  the  window  and  sees  Mow- 
bray. 

Isabel. 

[Drying  her  eyes."}  I'm  glad  you  know  about 
David  and  me.  I  can  talk  to  you  about  him.  It's 
so  terrible  to  say  good-bye.  [Dries  her  eyes  and 
recovers  her  composure  gradually.']  But  it's  only 
for  a  little  while.  If  they  keep  him  long  out  there 
I  shall  go  to  join  him.  [Mowbray  betrays  in- 
creasing dismay  as  she  continues.]  I  feel  content 
about  him  now.  I  think  it's  going  to  be  all  right. 
[Jernigan  enters,  with  an  open  letter  in 
Ms  hand, 

Jernigan. 

I've  just  received  this  letter  from  Mrs.  Grorringe. 
She  desires  me  to  continue  my  investigation. 

Mowbray. 

[To  Jernigan.]     I  hear  you  have  circumstan- 
tial evidence  against  me. 


MRS,    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  145 

Isabel. 

I'm  glad  you  have  this  chance  to  clear  yourself. 
[Goes  towards  the  door.^ 

Jernigan. 
[To  Isabel.]     Please  don't  go. 

Mowbray. 
I  don't  wish  to  explain  before  her. 

Jernigan. 

I  need  her  evidence.  [To  Isabel.]  If  this 
matter  is  brought  into  court  you  will  be  the  most 
important  witness.  Please  remember  this,  and 
answer  me  now  as  carefully  as  if  you  were  on  oath. 

Isabel. 
Yes. 

Jernigan. 

What  is  your  Christian  name  ? 

Isabel. 
Isabel. 

Jernigan. 
Single? 

Isabel. 
Married. 

Mowbray. 

[Startled,]     Married? 


146  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Isabel. 

I  was  married  this  morning  at  the  Kegistry 
Office  to  David  Cairn. 

Jernigan. 

Last  evening  when  I  came  into  this  room  and 
saw  you  receiving  the  stolen  necklace  from  Cap- 
tain Mowbray,  did  you  see  him  take  it  from 
that  bowl  ? 

Isabel. 
No. 

Jernigan. 

Thank  you.  [To  Mowbray.]  What  is  your 
explanation  ? 

Mowbray. 

[Loohing  at  Isabel.]  Married!  [To  Jerni- 
gan.]    I  —  can't  explain  — 

Jernigan. 

I  must  press  you  to  do  so,  or  it  will  be  my  pain- 
ful duty  to  take  you  into  custody. 

Mowbray. 

[To  himself.']  Married!  [Turns  to  Jerni- 
gan.]    I  decline  to  explain. 


CURTAIN. 


THE    FOUETH    ACT 

SCENE. — The  same  as  Acts  I,  II  and  III,  About 
one  minute  has  elapsed  since  Act  III. 

Isabel  is  alone,  distracted  with  anxiety.  She 
draws  her  hand  across  her  eyes,  rings  the  hell, 
goes  to  the  writing -tahle,  sits  and  writes  a 
note,  places  it  in  an  envelope  and  seals  it. 

[Charles  enters. 

Isabel. 

[Addressing  the  envelope  as  she  speaJcs.}  Take 
this  to  Mrs.  Gorringe  at  once.  She's  at  Miss  Potts' 
—  just  over  the  way.  [Gives  the  letter  to 
Charles.] 

Charles. 
Yes,  miss. 

[Charles  goes  out  with  the  letter,  holding 
the  door  open  as  he  goes  to  allow  Col- 
onel and  Mrs.  Jardine  to  enter.  Their 
faces  express  solemn  amazement. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

W-e've  just  heard.     You  could  knock  me  down 
with    a    feather.     [She    looJcs    at    the    others.] 
Hasn't  anyone  anything  to  say? 
147 


148  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Colonel  Jardine. 

[In  a  superior  tone.']  Vm.  not  as  surprised  as 
you  are.  I  suspected  it  was  Mowbray  for  some 
time. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

You  always  did  know  before  hand  —  when  it's 
all  over.  You  weren't  the  only  one  who  suspected, 
either.  Don't  you  remember  me  saying  the  day 
he  came,  "  There's  something  I  don't  like  about 
that  man's  eyes"? 

Colonel  Jardine. 

No;  I  don't  remember  you  saying  anything  of 
the  kind. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Well,  I  thought  it.  I've  heard  of  people  enter- 
taining angels  unawares,  but  I  never  heard  of  any- 
one entertaining  a  thief  and  a  chemist's  daughter 
unawares. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

I  wonder  what  we'd  better  do. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

There's  nothing  for  us  to  do.  I  suppose  Black 
Maria  will  call  for  him  in  the  usual  way. 

Isabel. 

Father,  I've  just  sent  a  note  to  Mrs.  Gorringe 
to  ask  her  not  to  prosecute  him. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  149 

Colonel  Jardine. 
Do  you  think  she  won't  want  to  now? 

Isabel. 

I  hope  she  won't.    We  shall  find  out  when  she 
comes. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
When  who  comes? 

Isabel. 
Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
I'm  liot  going  to  have  that  woman  coming  here. 

Isabel. 
Mother,  this  is  no  time  to  think  about  trifles. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Trifles !     Do  you  call  it  a  trifle  when  a  shop- 
keeper's daughter  insults  your  mother? 

Colonel  Jardine. 

My  dear,  you  don't  Jcnow  that  she's  a  shop- 
keeper's daughter. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
You  don't  know  what  she  isn't. 


150  MRS.   GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE 

Isabel. 

Captain  Mowbray  will  be  taken  away  by  the 
detective  directly.  If  you  don^t  care  about  him, 
I  suppose  you  don't  want  to  be  mixed  up  in  a 
public  scandal.  It  rests  with  Mrs.  Gorringe  to 
prevent  that. 

[Charles  enters. 
Charles. 

[Announcing.']     Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Not  at  home. 

[Charles  turns  to  go. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Wait  a  minute,  Charles.  [Goes  to  his  wife."] 
My  dear,  Mrs.  Gorringe  knows  something  else 
against  Mowbray.  Now  we  ought  to  find  out  what 
it  is,  so  I  think  you'd  better  apologise. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
I  shall  not  apologise. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

We  shall  never  find  out  what  she  knows  if  you 
don't. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[After  a  momenfs  reflection  says  to  Charles.] 
At  home. 

[Charles  goes  out. 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  151 

Colonel  Jardine. 

As  it  may  be  something  of  a  private  nature,  I'll 
leave  you  and  Isabel  to  get  it  out  of  her  — 

[Colonel  Jardine  goes  out  into  the  gar- 
den.   Enter  Charles. 

Charles. 
Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Mrs.  Gorringe  enters,  a  little  nervous  as 
to  how  she  will  he  received.  Charles 
goes  out. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Meeting  Mrs.  Gorringe  with  great  cordiality.] 
Dear  Mrs.  Gorringe,  I  told  Isabel  to  ask  you  to 
come  so  that  I  might  tell  you  how  much  I  regret 
our  quarrel. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Dear  Mrs.  Jardine,  it  was  all  my  fault. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
No,  no.     I  was  entirely  to  blame. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Oh,  now,  I  won't  hear  you  say  that. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
You  must  try  to  forgive  me. 


152  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Mes.  Gorringe. 

Indeed,  it  is  you  who  must  try  to  forgive  me, 
may  I  say  Emily? 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

I  wish  you  would  —  er  —  [Puzzles  a  moment,] 
What's  your  name? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Rose. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

What  a  pretty  name!  [Sits  on  the  sofa,  draw- 
ing Mrs.  Gorringe  down  heside  Jier.]  Now, 
Eosie  —  what's  the  other  thing  you  know  against 
this  Captain  Mowbray  ? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Verging  on  a  nervous  breakdown  throughout 
the  scene.]     I'll  tell  you  presently. 

Isabel. 
Are  you  going  to  prosecute  Captain  Mowbray? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

I'll  come  to  that  directly.  I  can't  tell  you  what 
I  felt  when  I  got  Isabel's  letter.  My  head  all  went 
dizzy  and  my  heart  fluttered  like  a  bird. 


MRS.   GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  153 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
You  can't  have  been  surprised  to  hear  this  man 
Mowbray  had  been  arrested,  after  what  you  knew, 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

I\e  hardly  had  time  to  realize  if  I  was  sur- 
prised or  not.  My  knees  are  quivering  like  aspen 
leaves. 

Isabel. 

But  you  won't  prosecute,  will  you  ? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Give  me  a  little  time  to  get  over  the  shock.  I 
was  in  a  state  of  palpitation  anyway,  —  after  the 
words  we  had.  [Mrs.  Jardine  pats  Mrs.  Gor- 
RiNGE  forgivingly.']  I'd  run  all  the  way  to  Miss 
Potts's  —  perhaps  not  quite  all  the  way  —  but 
most  of  the  way  —  in  nothing  but  my  house-shoes 
and  a  hat.  Oh,  dear!  It's  beginning  again. 
[Puts  her  hand  to  her  heart  and  closes  her  eyes.] 

Isabel. 

The  salts.  [Tahes  a  bottle  of  salts  from  a 
table.'] 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Recovers  in  a  moment  and  goes  on  volubly.] 
When  I  got  to  Miss  Potts's  I  rang  the  bell.  Jane 
came  to  the  door,  or  was  it  Minnie?  My  head's 
going  round  and  round  so  I  can't  even  remember 
who  came  to  the  door. 


154  MRS.   GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE 

Isabel. 

{Exasperated.l  Never  mind  who  came  to  the 
door. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Oh,  don't  say  that,  Isabel.  My  nerves  are  so 
upset.  There!  You've  made  it  begin  again. 
[Closes  her  eyes  and  lays  her  hand  on  her  heart.'] 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

We  shall  never  find  out  what  Mowbray  did,  at 
this  rate. 

[Isabel  applies  the  salts  to  Mrs.  Gor- 
ringe's  nose  so  suddenly  that  Mrs. 
GoRRiNGE  screams. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Thank  you,  dear.  I  believe  I  should  have 
swooned  if  I  hadn't  had  that  sniff. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
Now,  tell  us  about  Mowbray. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Yes.     Where  was  I?     Oh.     After  I'd  written 
that  letter  to  Mr.  Jernigan  we  went  upstairs. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
Who?    You  and  Mowbray? 


MRS.   GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  155 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

No.  Miss  Potts  and  I.  Miss  Potts  poured  out 
some  water  and  said,  "  There,  dear,  bathe  your 
eyes.^'  And  I  said,  "  Thank  you,  dear,  and  if  you 
could  lend  me  a  comb  I  should  be  so  grateful,  as 
Vve  brought  nothing  with  me.'^ 

Isabel. 
[Exasperated.']     Mrs.  Gorringe! 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Don't  interrupt  me,  dear;  I  shall  lose  the 
thread. 

Isabel. 

There's  no  time  to  waste.  Are  you  going  to 
prosecute  or  are  you  not? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Now  I've  lost  it.     I  don't  know  where  I  was. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
You  were  in  Miss  Potts's  bedroom. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Yes.  And  while  I  was  trying  to  make  myself 
fit  to  be  seen  —  all  of  a  sudden  — 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
Mowbray  came  in. 


156  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
No  —  not  Mowbray. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Exasperated.']  Well,  where  does  Mowbray 
come  in? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

I'll  tell  you  presently.  I  can't  speak  more  than 
one  word  at  once.  Minnie  or  Jane,  or  whichever 
of  them  it  was,  came  in  with  Isabel's  letter.  I 
can't  tell  you  what  I  felt.  My  head  went  all 
dizzy  and  my  heart  fluttered  like  a  bird. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Yes,  yes.  [Losing  her  temper.']  And  your 
knees  quivered  like  aspen  leaves.     Oh  — 

[Moves  away  from  Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Isabel. 

FU  get  the  detective  to  her. 

[Isabel  goes  out  quickly. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Loohing  after  Isabel.]  I'm  afraid  Isabel 
doesn't  like  me.  [Rising.]  I  really  must  go  to 
the  chemist  and  get  a  nerve  tonic. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
[Pricking  up  Iter  ears.]     The  chemist? 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  157 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Yes.    I  wonder  which  is  the  best  one  to  go  to. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
I  should  have  thought  you  could  tell  me  that. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Why? 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Kever  mind  the  chemist;  let  us  prepare  a  little 
statement  for  the  detective.  [Sits  at  the  writ' 
ing-tahle,  takes  a  pen  and  paper,} 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Oh  no,  no.  If  I  have  to  undergo  any  more 
of  those  searching  questions,  I  shall  lose  my  rea- 
son. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

It  won't  take  long.  [Writing  as  she  speaJcs."] 
Birthplace  Ipswich.  [Turns  to  Mrs.  Gor- 
ringe.]     Father's  name? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Arnold  Pilkington. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
Occupation  ?     [LooJcs  searchingly  at  Mrs.  Gor- 

RliTGE.] 


158  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Losing  her  head,']     What  do  they  call  them? 
—  Che  — Che  — 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Chemist? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[On   her  dignity.']      No.     County   Councillor. 
Papa's  the  Mayor  of  Ipswich. 

[Isabel  enters,  followed  hy  Jernigan. 
About  the  same  time.  Colonel  Jardine 
enters  from  the  garden, 

Isabel. 

[To  Mrs.  Gorringe.]     Please  tell  Mr.  Jemi- 
gan  if  you  intend  to  prosecute  or  not. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Of  course  I  don't  want  anyone  to  go  to  prison. 

Isabel. 

[To    Jeenigan.]     There!      You    see!       She 
won't ! 

Jernigan. 

[To  Mrs.  Gorringe.]     In  your  letter  you  in- 
structed me  to  arrest  whomever  I  suspected. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Yes  —  because —     [Laughing  as  she  goes  tO' 


MRS,    GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE  159 

wards  Mrs.  Jardine.]     You  know  you  said  they 
suspected  you. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
[Indignantly.]     Me?    What  next! 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

[Laughing  as  she  explains  to  Jernigan.]  I 
ought  to  tell  you  that  Mrs.  Jardine  and  I  had 
a  tiff  this  morning,  and  —  well,  I  was  so  put  out 
I  felt  ready  to  do  anything  to  annoy  her.  [Turns 
to  Mrs.  Jardine.  They  laugh  together.  Mrs. 
Jardine's  laughter  is  a  good  deal  forced.] 

Jernigan. 

This  question  of  prosecution  doesn't  affect  Mrs. 
Jardine,  but  Captain  Mowbray. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Ah!     He  was  very  rude  to  me. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Eagerly.]  Ask  her  what  he  did,  Mr.  Jerni- 
gan. 

Jernigan. 
What  is  it  you  know  against  him? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Well  —  we  were  standing  about  there  —  no, 
there.     [Points  to  the  carpet  near  her  feet,] 


160  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
Wlio?     You  and  Miss  Potts? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
No.     Captain  Mowbray  and  I. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
We^ve  come  to  Mowbray  at  last. 

Colonel  Jardine. 
Don't  interrupt  her.     Now,  what  did  he  say? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
You  promise  you  won't  tell  Mr.  Gorringe? 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Wheedling  Mrs.  Gorringe.]     Now,  Eosie  — 
trust  Emily. 

[Mrs.  Gorringe  pats  Mrs.  Jardine  on 
the  cheek.  Mrs.  Jardine  is  intensely 
annoyed  hy  this  familiarity. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Well  — 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Out  with  it.     We're  all  waiting  to  hear  what 
he  said. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
I  don't  remember  what  he  said,  but  I  said  — 


MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  161 

Omnes. 
Yes  —  yes  —  well  ? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

"I  hope  I  shall  never  forget  my  duty  to  Mr: 
Gorringe  anS  the  children." 

[^Draws  herself  up  and  looks  round  at  the 
others,  very  well  satisfied  with  herself. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
[Eagerly. 1     What  had  he  done? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Nothing. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Well  —  what  did  he  do  ? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Nothing. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

Is  that  the  whol^  story? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 
Yes. 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Turning  angrily  from  Mrs.  Gorringe^  and 
marching  towards  her  hushand.']  And  you  made 
me  apologise  to  her  to  hear  that. 

[All  their  hacks  are  turned  to  Mrs.  Gor- 


162  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

RiNGE^  hut  she  does  not  perceive  this  as 
she  rambles  on. 


Mrs.    GrORRINGE. 

That  shows  you  the  kind  of  a  man  he  is  — 
He^s  the  sort  of  man  to  lead  a  woman  on  and 
make  her  say  things  that  —  well,  I  don't  think 
I  know  you  well  enough  to  explain  —  [She  looks 
at  the  others  and  sees  that  no  one  is  paying  any 
attention  to  her.']  If  you've  all  done  with  me, 
I'll  go. 

Colonel  Jardine. 

Don't  go,  Mrs.  Gorringe.  Now  that  you  and 
Emily  have  kissed  and  made  friends,  why  don't 
you  stay  and  finish  your  visit? 

Mrs.  Jardine. 

[Pulls  the  Colonel's  coat-tails,  as  she  interposes 
herself  between  him  and  Mrs.  Gorringe.]  Chris- 
topher! How  inconsiderate  of  you!  Of  course, 
dear  Eosie,  we  should  love  to  have  you  with  us, 
but  I^m  sure  you'd  have  hysterics  all  night  long 
in  that  room. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Oh,  I  know  I  should.  Did  I  ever  tell  you 
how  I  came  in  and  closed  the  door?  It's  as  if 
the  dressing-table  were  there —  [Points  to  the 
window.']  No,  there.  [Points  somewhere  else.] 
And  the  door  —   [Coming  towards  the  door.] 


MRS.   GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  163 

Colonel  and  Mrs.  Jakdine. 
\jQuiclcly,  together.']     Yes,  you  showed  us. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Oh,  of  course.  You  were  in  the  room  when 
I  was  telling  Mr.  Jernigan.  Good-bye.  [Shakes 
hands  with  Mrs.  Jardine.] 

Mrs.  Jardine. 
Good-bye. 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Good-bye.  [Shakes  hands  with  Colonel  Jar- 
dine.] 

Colonel  Jardine. 
Good-bye. 

Isabel. 
Are  you  going  back  to  Miss  Potts? 

Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Oh,  no,  dear.  I'm  going  back  to  Mr.  Gorringe 
and  the  children. 

[Mrs.   Gorringe  goes  out. 

Mrs.  Jardine.     v 

Come,  Christopher,  let  us  speed  the  parting 
guest. 

[Mrs.  Jardine  goes  out  after  Mrs.  Gor- 
ringe. 


164  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Colonel  Jaedine. 
Certainly.     You  always  were  a  model  hostess. 
[Colonel  Jardine  goes   out  after  Mrs. 
Jardine  and  Mrs.  Gorringe. 

Jernigan". 
I  must  go  back  to  Captain  Mowbray. 

Isabel. 

As  Mrs.  Gorringe  knows  nothing  against  him, 
and  won^t  prosecute  —  you  can  release  him,  can't 
you? 

Jernigan. 

If  she  won't  prosecute  —  I  must. 

Isabel. 

Oh,  no. 

Jernigan. 

I  believe  a  felony  has  been  committed.  Cap- 
tain Mowbray  has  practically  confessed.  It  is 
my  duty  to  arrest  him. 

Isabel. 

But  you'll  ruin  him  —  you  will,  indeed.  I 
know  he  didn't  do  it.  The  necklace  is  found. 
There's  no  harm  done. 

Jernigan. 
[Unmoved,  hut  not  harshly.']     My  work  accus- 


MRS.   GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  165 

toms  me  to  scenes  like  this.  I  have  seen  so  many 
women  weep  and  pray  for  mercy  that  I  have 
become  hardened.     [Turns  to  the  door.] 

Isabel. 

[Quietly.]  I  would  like  to  speak  to  him  be- 
fore you  go  —  only  a  few  words,  but  alone. 
Please  don't  refuse  me  that.  It's  only  to  say 
good-bye. 

Jernigan. 

It's  a  violation  of  my  duty,  but  I  feel  I  can 
trust  you. 

[Jernigan  goes  out. 

Isabel. 

What  can  we  do?  [Enter  Captain  Mowbray.] 
I'm  so  sure  this  is  all  a  mistake.  Can't  you  tell 
me?     I'll  keep  your  secret. 

Mowbray. 
It's  best  as  it  is. 

Isabel. 

But  if  they  send  you  to  prison.  Oh,  think  — 
[She  is  overcome  with  emotion.] 

Mowbray. 

They  won't  send  me  to  prison.  There'll  be  a 
trial,  most  likely,  but  I  think  I  shall  get  off. 


166  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Isabel. 
Then  you  admit  it's  a  mistake. 

Mowbray. 

{Momentarily  confused.]  I  —  I —  You  said 
yesterday  you  trusted  me. 

Isabel. 
More  than  any  man. 

Mowbray. 
Then  —  trust  me  still. 

Isabel. 

I  do.  But  you  leave  me  so  in  the  dark.  I 
thought  you'd  explain  it  to  me,  —  just  me.  [He 
turns  silently  away.]  If  you  can't —  [Giving 
vent  to  her  emotion.]  Oh,  I  can't  bear  it.  To 
see  you  taken  away  like  a  criminal,  if  they'd  only 
take  me  instead  of  you!  If  only  I  could  bear 
the  shame  we've  somehow  brought  on  you  to- 
day—  [Falters.]  my  wedding  day.  [Brealcs 
down,] 

Mowbray. 

[Comes  towards  her,  speaking  tenderly  and  sor- 
rowfully.] Yes,  poor  child,  your  wedding  day, 
but  brighter  days  will  come,  and  soon  you'll  for- 
get that  your  wedding  bells  never  rang. 


MRS,    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE  167 

Isabel. 
[Brokenly.}     It  isn't  that  1  care  about. 

Mowbray. 

No.  I  know,  but  Fd  pictured  your  wedding 
day  so  differently. 

Isabel. 

You  know  why  I  married  David,  —  you,  only 
you.  You  know  I  don't  regret  it,  and  I  think  he's 
going  to  turn  out  well  now.  But  I  can't  realise 
that  we  are  married.  We  spoke  a  few  hurried 
words  in  the  Eegistry  Office  —  that  was  all.  It 
hasn't  made  any  difference  to  me  yet.  And 
David  isn't  in  danger  and  you  are.  I  must  place 
you  first  now.  [Seeing  his  emotion  as  she  loohs 
into  his  eyes.']     Do  I  make  ii  harder  for  you? 

Mowbray. 
[With  exaltation.]     Ko  —  no — so  much  easier. 

Isabel. 
[Innocently.]     How  can  I  make  it  easier? 

Mowbray. 

Because  whatever  my  life  is  now  —  and  it's 
likely  to  be  lonely  —  I  shall  always  remember  that 
for  one  moment  you  placed  me  first  in  yours. 


168  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

Isabel. 

[Innocently,  putting  her  face  near  to  his.l 
Will  that  make  it  easier? 

Mowbray. 

[Looks  into  her  face,  then  draws  hach  sud- 
denly.] Don't  tempt  me.  You  know  what  I 
mean.  Fve  wasted  the  best  years  of  my  life  — 
an  exile  —  working  to  grow  rich  —  for  you.  And 
then  —  when  I  thought  Fd  won  you  —  to  see 
you  snatched  from  me  —  by  a  boy.  [She  turns 
away.]  Forgive  me.  Don't  make  me  feel 
ashamed  of  myself.  [She  gives  him  her  hands.] 
If  ever  we  meet  again  we  shall  both  be  loyal  to 
David.  And  if  we  never  meet  —  perhaps  the  pain 
will  grow  less  in  time  —  and  I  shall  be  glad  to 
think  you  know  how  sweet  your  memory  will  be 
to  me.  I  shall  often  see  your  kind  eyes  smil- 
ing—  and  hear  your  voice,  —  Good-bye. 

Isabel. 
Good-bye. 

[Isabel  goes  out  slowly,  closing  the  door 
after  her.  David  enters  suddenly  from 
the  garden.  His  face  is  drawn  and 
white.  He  seems  on  the  verge  of  ner- 
vous prostration. 

David. 

Frank  I 


MRS,   GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE  169 

Mowbray. 
David! 

David. 

You  mustn't  do  this  for  me. 

Mowbray.    . 
Why  are  you  here? 

David. 
To  give  myself  up. 

Mowbray. 
How  did  you  hear  about  it? 

David. 
The  servant  said  you'd  been  arrested. 

Mowbray. 
But  why  did  you  come? 

David. 

Because  I'm  not  fit  to  be  in  the  army.  I'm  not 
fit  to  look  the  other  fellows  in  the  face.  I  thought 
they  could  all  see  it  in  my  face.  Isn't  it  there? 
Can't  everyone  see  it? 

Mowbray. 

[Laying  his  hand  firmly  on  David.]  David, 
you've  got  to  think  of  Isabel. 


170  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

David. 

Isabel!     ISinhs  into  a  chair  sohhing,'] 

Mowbray. 

[Firmly.]  Pull  yourself  together,  man.  She 
mustn't  see  this. 

David. 

She's  got  to  know  the  truth. 

Mowbray. 
She  must  never  know  it.     Forget  the  past. 

David. 
I  can't. 

Mowbray. 

You  must.  Brand  yourself,  you  dishonour  her. 
Think  what  that  means,  some  of  her  friends  shun- 
ning her,  some  pitying  her  —  all  humiliating  her. 
If  you  confess  now,  she  will  have  to  live  in  the 
glare  of  your  crime.  Don't  bring  her  to  that. 
Think  man,  think  —  Grip  hold  of  yourself  and 
think. 

David. 

I  can't  let  you  suffer  for  me. 

Mowbray. 

Don't  think  of  me.  Think  of  the  girl  you  mar- 
ried this  morning.  She  placed  all  her  life' in  your 
keeping.    Oh,  take  care  of  it,  take  care  of  it. 


MRS,   GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE  171 

David. 

It's  too  late. 

Mowbray. 

It's  not  too  late.  You're  a  boy  yet.  You've 
made  a  bad  start,  but  you  can  get  over  that. 
Begin  again,  your  life  is  before  you.  The  past 
is  only  to  warn  you,  not  to  make  you  despair. 
Begin  again,  say,  "  I  will  conquer,"  and  you  can. 
No  man  succeeds  by  accident.  It's  by  faith  and 
self-control,  and  hard  work,  and  it's  worth  it. 
It's  worth  everything  to  be  your  own  master  and 
not  your  own  slave.  Begin  again,  at  once,  and 
don't  delay.  That's  why  people  fail,  because  they 
put  off  making  that  first  big  effort.  Make  yours 
now.  Be  strong.  [David  breaks  down.']  She 
mustn't  see  you  like  this,  I'll  detain  her  while 
you  pull  yourself  together.  Look  forward,  lad  — 
there's  always  hope  ahead.  You  repent,  there's 
hope  in  that,  and  you're  not  going  out  alone; 
you're  going  to  face  the  world  with  a  true  woman. 
And  with  youth,  and  hope  and  faith,  and  Isabel 
—  why,  damn  it,  you  can  triumph  over  every- 
thing. 

[Mowbray  goes  out. 

David. 

[Hopelessly.']  The  curse  is  always  there  in 
my  mind  and  heart.  I'm  tainted  —  Oh  !  Isabel ! 
[Rises  with  determination.]  I  won't  bring  her 
dishonour,  I'll  set  her  free.  There's  only  one 
way —    I'll    do   it  —  I'll    do    it.     [Ooes    to    the 


172  MRS.    GORRINGE'S   NECKLACE 

writing-tahle,  sits  down,  and  writes  a  letter  in 
feverish  haste.  His  voice  breaks  as  he  says.]  And 
now,  good-bye  —  Isabel.  Good-bye.  [Puts  the 
letter  in  the  envelope,  addresses  it.~\  For  Isabel. 
[Charles  enters  as  if  looking  for  someone. 

David. 
Who  are  you  looking  for? 

Charles. 
Miss  Isabel,  sir. 

David. 

Here.  [Charles  comes  to  David,  who  hands 
him   letter.']     Give   her   that  —  in   five   minutes. 

Charles. 

[Takes  the  letter.]  I'll  give  it  to  her  now, 
sir. 

David. 

[Angrily.]     Not  now.     Have  you  so  sense? 

Charles. 

Beg  pardon,  sir.  In  five  minutes.  [Turns  to 
the  door.] 

David. 

Charles.  [Charles  comes  to  him.]  I  didn't 
mean  to  speak  angrily  to  you.  I  mean,  —  I  don't 
want    those    to    be    my    last    words.       Here  — 


MRS,   GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE  173 

[Feels  in  his  pockets,  takes  out  some  coins  and 
gives  them  to  Charles.] 

Charles. 
[Taking  the  money. 1     Thank  you,  sir. 

David. 
[Puts  his  hand  on   Charles'  shoulder  as  he 
speaks.']    Don't  make  a  mess  of  your  life,  Charles. 
[Charles  goes  out  and  closes   the   door. 
David  takes  a  revolver  from  his  pocket, 
examines  it,  then  goes  out  into  the  gar- 
den.   Enter  Isabel  and  Captain  Mow- 
bray. 

Isabel. 
I  thought  you  said  David  was  here. 

Mowbray. 
I  left  him  here. 

[Isabel  rings  the  hell. 

Isabel. 
But  why  should  he  come  back? 

Mowbray. 
He's  awfully  broken  up  about  me. 

Isabel. 
How  could  he  know?    It  all  happened  after  he 
left. 

Mowbray. 

He  knew  the  suspicion  was  on  me. 


174  MRS.  GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE 

Isabel. 

[As  if  struch  by  an  inspiration.l  Oh !  [Goes 
quickly  to  Mowbray.]  Are  you  doing  this  to 
shield  —  anybody  ? 

[Charles   enters,  holding   the  letter. 

Mowbray. 
Where  is  Mr.  Cairn? 

Charles. 
He  was  here  just  now. 

Mowbray. 
Did  he  say  anything  about  going  away? 

Charles. 

No,  sir. 

Isabel. 

[Noticing  the  letter  in  Charles'  hand.]  What's 
that  letter? 

Charles. 

He  said  I  wasn't  to  give  it  you  for  five  min- 
utes. It  must  be  five  minutes  now.  [Hands  the 
letter  to  Isabel.] 

[Charles  goes  out. 

Mowbray. 

[Trying  to  stop  her  opening  it.}     Don't  read 

it! 


MRS.  GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE  175 

Isabel. 
I  must. 

Mowbray. 

Isabel. 

Yes,  I  begin  to  see.  [Opens  the  letter  and 
reads  aloud.']  "  I  stole  the  necklace  when  you 
were  all  out  yesterday  afternoon —  If  you  don^t 
believe  this,  I  dare  say  you  can  find  out  at  the 
station  what  train  I  came  by  —  when  I  came  to 
the  house  about  three  o'clock,  the  gardener  saw 
me."  [Her  face  expresses  horror.  Then  she  looks 
up  and  says  firmly.]     They  must  all  see  this. 

Mowbray. 

No,  destroy  it. 

Isabel. 
Oh,  how  could  he  let  you  take  it  on  yourself? 

Mowbray. 

I  made  him  do  it.  I  shall  get  off  all  right, 
but  he  wouldn't.  He'd  be  ruined.  [Trying  to 
take  the  letter  from  her.]     Destroy  it. 

Isabel. 

Wait.  There's  more  yet.  [Turns  over  the  page 
and  reads.]  "  Frank  loves  you  —  "  [Stops  short, 
reading  the  rest  to  herself,  her  horror  giving  way 
to  alarm.]     Oh!    [Drops  the  letter.] 

[Mowbray  picks  it  up  and  reads  it. 


176  MRS.  GORRINGE'S  NECKLACE 

Mowbray. 

"  Frank  loves  you.  I  hope  you  will  marry  him 
some  day.  When  you  get  this  letter  you  will 
he  free,  so  it  will  be  no  use  to  try  and  stop  me. 
I  know  now  that  you  will  only  find  happiness 
after  my  death/^  [Runs  to  the  window.  Jerni- 
GAN  meets  Mowbray  at  the  window  and  whispers 
to  him.]  Dead ! !  [ Jernigan  disappears.]  Oh, 
poor  David! 


curtain. 


THP  MAfilSTPATF  ^^^^^  ^^  Three  Acts.  Twelve  males,  four 
lUC  iUAUlJlAiliC  females.  Costumes,  modern;  scenery,  all 
interior.    Plays  two  hours  and  a  half. 

THE  NOTORIOUS  MRS.  EBBSMITH  ^^/.riL; 'r/en.^::. 

Costumes,  modern ;  scenery,  all  interiors.    Plays  a  full  erening. 

THF  PRflFI  IfiATF  Play  in  Four  Acts.  Seven  males,  five  females. 
IUI4  rnurMUAlL.  gcenery,  three  interiors,  rather  elaborate; 
costumes,  modern.    Plays  a  full  evening. 

TRC  CrHAAl  MICTDCCC  Farce  in  Three  Acts.  Nine  males,  seven 
laC  MnUUtraiMKtiS    ^^^^^^^^  costumes, modem;  scenery, 

three  interiors.    Plays  a  full  evening. 

TBE  SECOND  MRS.  TANQUERAY  ^^^^.^l 

tumes,  modern ;  scenery,  three  interiors.    Plays  a  full  evening. 

SWFFT  T  AVFNDFR  comedy  in  Three  Acts.  Seven  males,  four 
JTTCCl  J^ilTU^ULA  females.  Scene,  a  single  interior;  costumes, 
modem.    Plays  a  full  evening. 

THF  TIMFS    Comedy  in  Four  Acts.    Six  males,  seven  females. 
Scene,  a  single  interior;  costumes,  modern.    Plays  a 
full  evening. 

THF  WFAKFR  SFY  Comedy  in  Three  Acts.  Eight  males,  eight 
1 UD  IT  CAIVCa  JCA  f eniales.  Costumes,  modern  ;  scenery,  two 
Interiors.    Plays  a  full  evening. 

A  WIFE  WITHOUT  A  SMILE  '^SZ::^^2.X.^ZZ 

modern  ;  scene,  a  single  interior.     Plays  a  full  evening. 


Sent  prepaid  on  receipt  of  price  by 

Salter  i^*  TBafeet  &  Company 

No.  5  Hamilton  Place,  Boston,  Massachusetts 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CARIFORNIA  LIBRARY,        1 

BERKELEY 

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(on 

,^vi  lg152e 

»8,  four 
ery,  va- 

1.    Cos- 
vening. 

smales. 
vening. 

four  fe- 
,  of  the 

renteen 
jtumes, 

Scen- 
3  a  lull 

Bmales, 
Plays  a 

Fifteen 
ery  va- 

n  Five 
males, 
>lay8  a 

25»?-7.'25 

isetts 

No.  5  Hamilton  Place,  Boston,  Massachu 

I       PAT.JAI.  21,  190» 


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